FunkSolid Posted November 29, 2015 Report Share Posted November 29, 2015 A member of my family really wants to have a school of Cardinal Tetras in their 26G. I'm nervous because my tap water is 8.3pH (Calgary Glenmore Reservoir) every single time I have tested it. To this point I have only kept species that thrive in hard alkaline water. I'm not interested in altering water chemistry at all, or in RO. Is it futile keeping these guys in Calgary tap water? Thank You Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 A few plants and co2 injection and he should be good to go.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkSolid Posted November 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 A few plants and co2 injection and he should be good to go.. Alrighty, what about a simple tank without live plants and CO2 injection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugene Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Thats fine for tap water but not for aged aquarium water that has been cycled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkSolid Posted November 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Thats fine for tap water but not for aged aquarium water that has been cycled. I think I wrote that wrong. This is for cycled 26 Gallon tank, with a Fluval 205 Canister. Fake plants and inert substrate, so i'm wondering about the futility of those guys with the pH staying steady at ~8.3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japanda Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I have well water tank at 8.6 with cardinals/neons... lots of other fish in it. They are growing normally in it. If its a steady ph and you acclimate them before adding to your tank they should be fine imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjerrom Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 (edited) I keep 1000's of cardinals, and other SA fish in Calgary water but what's the real culprit is the NH3/NH4 at a pH of over 7.2. The smallest amount of NH3/NH4 at these high pH's is quite deadly. Since I don't want to fiddle with the pH and lower it and create a flux within the pH I just work with what I have. 1) I do frequent bi-weekly water changes and replace my ammonia remover often. 2) Feed the fish as much as they'll eat in 15mins to avoid excess waste - I starve my fish weekly from Friday to Monday morning as its good for them. (Probably should do that for myself as well!) 3) I also aerate my tanks with an air pump with a 6"-18" stone for emergencies but it's main use is to help break up the surface gases. (Get a dual power air pump that will come on in emergency power losses to avoid issues as most pumps are 50.00 but the collections of fish are 100-1,000's if we are honest with our spouses!) 4) I use circulating heads to move the water around to avoid dead spots within the tanks. Edited December 1, 2015 by cjerrom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkSolid Posted December 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Thanks Curtis, thats some solid know-how right there! Talk to you soon ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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