R/O water parameters...

[rbedeki]

I tested the R/O water that we buy from a water store here in Phoenix. Yup you heard me a "water store"...if you ever tasted our drinking water you would know why there are water store on every other block. Anyway, I tested some of it last night becuase I'm looking into keeping a couple of pairs of Apistos in my new planted 20L. Our tap water is very hard...somewhere in the 400 500ppm. The R/O water tested out at:

6.4 pH
0 nitrites
0 ammonia
0 nitrates
0 phosphates
1* kh
1* gh

What kind of problems would I incounter with this water?
Any advice would be greatly apprecciated

 

[Discus Man]

With no KH as a buffer for acids then the acids produced by fish wastes, nitric acid could cause a massive drop in pH

Pure 100% RO water can be used when combined with frequent water changes. You can also use Peat and baking soda to play with the water till you acheive a formula for it.

Personally I find R/O mixed in with a ratio of tap water is usually the easiest to prepare and use.

 

[rbedeki]

Thanks D-man, so what are the optimum water parameters for A. Cacatouides?

 

[Discus Man]

There is no perfect water for cacs as they just aren't that fussy. Personally I go for a pH of 6.6 to 6.8 , GH and KH of 4, Handful of Peat.
Apistos seem to have no prob breeding in that so I go with it.

 

[aspen]

the best water is that which can be reproduced easily time after time, without having problems associated with constantly shifting parms.

all of the fish i've bred have been fine with a 50/50 mix of my tap with r/o. the mix is simple, and parms will not shift easily, yet the fish will breed and the fry will survive. i suppose when you get into more difficult species, you will have to do more work. for cacs, gh 4, kh 2, is very good, gh8, kh 4, ph 7.8 (my tapwater) will easily produce 50% hatches ime.

rick