Re: Problems with R/O Right

[Randy & Deb Carey <carey@spacestar.net>]

This was suggested to me by Joe Gargas, the guy writing the great water articles
in TFH the past year.  He told me to mix up two batches and test the ionic
content to prove it to myself.  Of course, I don't have the expensive equipment
to verify this.  Joe told me that a serious aquarist should own certain water
analysis equipment.  He added that altogether the cost for this equipment should
not exceed $3000 (three thousand US $)!  I guess my electronic pH, temp, and
conductivity meters leave me short of being serious ;-)

Anyway, all I can say is that someone I respect was insistent on discouraging R/O
Right if I want to have control of the ionic balance in my water.  I can't prove
it, but it does make sense.  If the mixture of R/O Right contains more than one
chemical, then the contents will probably not remain evenly mixed.

However, for the easier-to-spawn fishes like most Apistogramma species, I
question the need to be this meticulous.  I'm not, and I get good results.  In
contrast, ionic content is apt to be more important in more challenging species:
It has been demonstated that the balance of Mg to Ca affects the williningness to
spawn and egg development of rummy-nose tetras.

So keep using your R/O right if you are getting good results.  If you are not
getting the spawns you think you should get, then consider discarding your old
R/O Right container and trying something else.

--Randy


Michael D Nielsen wrote:

> <<The problem with R/O Right, as I've been told, is that its contents
> <<settle
> <<unevenly.  Each spoonful contains a different balance of chemicals.
>
> <<--Randy
>
> I have been using the same container for a few years.  Would there be
> anything that I might notice in my fish or plants resulitng from a lack of
> certain minerals?
>
> I was wondering if anyone else has heard this and if they have any
> experience with complications.
>
> I am very interested in this as I find the R/O Right to be a easy and
> cheap way to add back the salts needed.  Also I feel that if I have gone
> through the trouble of removing a bunch of stuff from my tap water that I
> don't simply want to add back a smaller portion of it later to get the
> correct GH/KH.
>
> THanks for any insight or ideas, always looking to learn more.
>
> whomareyou?whomareyou?whomareyou?whomareyou?whomareyou?whomareyou?whomarey
> h                                                                        o
> o    Mike Nielsen                                                        u
> m    Department of Geography         THE OPTIMIST BELIEVES WE LIVE IN    ?
> a    Harvill Bldg Box #2             THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS;    w
> r    Tucson, AZ 85721                THE PESSIMIST FEARS THIS IS SO      h
> e    mnielsen@u.arizona.edu                                              o
> y                                                                        m
> ou?whomareyou?whomareyou?whomareyou?whomareyou?whomareyou?whomareyou?whom?
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com.
> For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help,
> email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com.
> Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!



-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com.
For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help,
email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com.
Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!