Perfecting Breeding Water

[BIGFOOT]

This is my tap water conditions before Ro:


TDS : 206 pH : 8.4
NO3 : 5 PO4 :.25
GH : 9.0 KH : 5.6
CA : 60 MG : 2
CO2 : 1


I reduce these values with Ro and got these number:


TDS 73 PH :7.3
GH: 1.1 KH: 1.7



Why is the ph still high? The way i reduce it was 12 gallons of tap in 60 gallon barrel then filled the rest with RO. I had to add Seachem acid to it to get the ph below 7.0. I want a ph of 7.0 or a little lower for breeding. Is this the way to do it? After i add the acid (1.0 teaspoon per 60 gal.) i got a ph of 6.5.

[nacra99]

Bigfoot,
Unless you are trying to induce wilds to spawn, you don't really need to have pH 6.5 or low TDS like you are aiming for. In fact, although your pH and your TDS are a little on the higher side, but still within acceptable ranges. It is a myth that you need low pH and low GH to successfully spawn domestics. I have successfully raised spawns at ph 7.8 and gH 10 (although hatch rates are lower at higher gH).

Also, a kH of 1.7 is really low... which would make your water vulnerable to pH crashes

Judging from your tap water parameters, unless you are breeding wilds, a 50/50 or even a 40/60 RO/Tap mix with no further adjustment of other paramenters would be sufficient.

cheers
Marc

[BIGFOOT]

Hi Nacra99


Still a little confused are you saying that my tap water is good enough for breeding the domestics?

[nacra99]

hi bigfoot,
sorry for the confusion... 5 months in korea is really affecting my english..haha...

While your tap water parameters are on the high side, it may still be possible to breed domestics (in 100% tap water).

But you should be able to get a much better hatch rate with a gH lower than 6 or 7 (not necessary to be as low as 1.1).

Hence i reccomended 50/50 or 40/60 ro/tap mix. Your pH might not go under 7.0 but it will be ok for breeding.

CHeers
Marc

[BIGFOOT]

Let me make sure i am hearing ya right. All i need to worry about is GH and it must be below 6 or 7. And PH and KH does not matter is this right.

[nacra99]

In short... yes.. get your GH to about 6 or below for a good hatch rate.

your pH should be fine what's more important is to keep it stable

try to keep your KH above 3 or 4. It stabilizes the water and prevents sudden pH crashes.

Cheers
Marc

[raglanroad]

Bigfoot,
I think something is wrong with the numbers, for that kind of mixing ratio.
Shouldn't you be getting lower values in your second set of numbers?
.

[BIGFOOT]

raglanroad,


Sorry typo I meant tap water instead i put ro.

[raglanroad]

BIGFOOT, if you take the 206 value from the 12 gal.tapwater TDS and divide it by 4 , as if the barrel was filled only up to the 48 gal. level, you should have about 55-60 ppm, TDS I figure, if your RO water reads 5 or a bit more.