Re: Soft, acid water

[IDMiamiBob <IDMiamiBob@aol.com>]

Nancy writes:

><< >I had the apistos in a heavily planted 30 gallon community tank that had
a
> >pH just under 6 and the female went into brilliant breeding colors.  I've
> >done my best to replicate those conditions but am not having any success. 
 
> Ok...maybe I'm missing something here but :)  why would there be such a
> difference between these two tanks???  If the conditions are being
> replicated shouldn't there be something that is responsible for the
> variation in pH??  Is it possible that there is something in the 10g not in
> the 30g or vs vs?  Same water source, plants, gravel, driftwood, clay pot,
> ???  Seems like there must be something that has to be different that is
> responsible for the difference.  Are the gravel sources the same?
>  >>

The 30 gallon is an ESTABLISHED, PLANTED tank, which means it probably has
lots of fish-pooh and dead, rotting pieces of roots, leaves, etc.  The 10
gallon is a new, relatively clean tank.  The differences can be traced to
either the detritus, the humus, the bogwood ( which may be leaching), or any
combination of the above.  Even with regular water changes, these things can
keep an established tank soft and acidic. She will need to treat her tank with
something to soften it, or use processed water.

Bob Dixon