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delta5
02-14-2016, 01:29 PM
What tds should I aim for if I want my breeding pair to spawn? Currently the tds is 72ppm.

Altum Nut
02-14-2016, 03:09 PM
There is no set rule as many have reported spawns with good hatch rates over in the range of 100ppm and over. So to answer your question your current TDS is fine. Remember they will spawn in very hard water but reason for the lower TDS is to insure outer egg shell remains soft and allow a prolonged time frame for male to fertilize.

...Ralph

LizStreithorst
02-14-2016, 03:17 PM
Ralph is right. It is more dependent on what minerals are in your water and in what form than the TDS. You have to experiment with your own water before you'll know for sure what works for you. 35 TDS is the sweet spot for me.

delta5
02-14-2016, 04:12 PM
Makes me think I need to go back to 100% ro and use seachem minerals. When I had yellow lab mbunas they started spawning when I stopped using tap water and used seachem minerals.

LizStreithorst
02-14-2016, 04:37 PM
I don't know your water nor how much it costs. Sometimes a media bag filled with peat in the water storage containers you use for your breeders will work. It raises the uS but lowers pH which sounds counter intuitive, but it worked for me. Depending on your water bill and whether you can use the waste water for your adults and grow outs peat might be a cheap solution for you.

delta5
02-14-2016, 06:12 PM
Haven't looked in a while but I think my water is 0.11 per 100cu ft

LizStreithorst
02-14-2016, 06:30 PM
I'm sorry, delta5. I think that we are speaking in different languages about water. .11 per 100 cu ft makes no sense to me. Sorry.

Fishquake
02-14-2016, 07:22 PM
Ralph is right. It is more dependent on what minerals are in your water and in what form than the TDS. You have to experiment with your own water before you'll know for sure what works for you. 35 TDS is the sweet spot for me.

Liz what is you pH and is it difficult to maintain it without crashing with such a low TDS?

LizStreithorst
02-14-2016, 07:53 PM
6.8 out of the tap and 7.2 after aging for 24 hrs. I have never had a problem with a pH swing in my tanks but they are BB and I change a ton of water.

Fishquake
02-14-2016, 10:38 PM
6.8 out of the tap and 7.2 after aging for 24 hrs. I have never had a problem with a pH swing in my tanks but they are BB and I change a ton of water.

Wow, that's great. My pH out of the tap is 7.1, after RO and aging its 5.5. I'm using a TDS around 60. I think I would get a better yield if I drop my TDS a little more, but I'm concerned about a crash.

delta5
02-14-2016, 11:30 PM
Well I think I solved the problem. Thanks to close friend's advice. I wrapped the sides of the tank in paper towels and used scotch tape to hold them in place. Left a little slit around so I can spy and they're already vigorously cleaning the pvc pipe and rubbering their underside along it. I think I might wake up in the morning with eggs!

delta5
02-14-2016, 11:39 PM
Omg! Eggs!!!!

Akili
02-15-2016, 12:20 AM
Good Luck ! Wrigglers Next

delta5
02-15-2016, 11:03 AM
Thanks. They didn't waste any time. First fish I owned that needed privacy lol.

Akili
02-15-2016, 12:20 PM
Thanks. They didn't waste any time. First fish I owned that needed privacy lol.Are they still in the 90 gal tank?

delta5
02-15-2016, 12:43 PM
Are they still in the 90 gal tank?

Yes