Re: Apistogramma borelli

[IDMiamiBob <IDMiamiBob@aol.com>]

In a message dated 5/19/98 8:11:44 PM EST, gomberg@wcf.com writes:

<<  My water has a very high buffering capacity, which I think is from
 >dissolved carbonate.  
 
> I am taking this to mean that your water is a lot like pure water with a
> bunch of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) added.   If that is what you mean,
> just add a little of a strong acid (dilute muriatic acid down 100 to 1,
> then use a little) and that will cause:
 
>    NaHCO3+HCl->NaCl+H2CO3->NaCl+H2O+CO2
 
> so that you end up with the effect of a little table salt (NaCl) and CO2
> which bubbles off (stir vigorously).   Now if you use this treated water in
> your tank (after testing that the pH is 6.5 or so) your basic water problem
> should disappear.  If you are going to treat with peat, only use the dilute
 HCl down to 7.0 and then use the peat to lower the pH further.  HTH.   Dave
  >>

Slick.  But I'm not sure it's SODIUM bicarbonate.  Except I'm sure it isn't
anything divalent like Ca or Mg, which would show on your basic hardness test.
Can I test it somehow before I start, or is it just unlikely to be anything
else?  In which case it's worth a try.

And does carbonate hardness have a negative effect on softwater fish like the
non-carbonate hardness?

Bob Dixon