RE: Endler's livebearers

[Kathy Olson <kathy@thekrib.com>]

Thanks, I was wondering how you did things.

For us, I have So. Americans, so they like soft water, for those I add
nothing.  I am going for very soft water that makes the snails lose their
shells.  when the plants turn white too...then I may add something.

For the lake Tanganykians I add magnesium and calcium carbonate.  The
enders I occasionally add salt as well as the calcium carbonate (just a
bit less than I do the Lake Tang. fish).

I discovered with some Pelvicachromis species they did a little better
with a touch of salt, so occasionally I added a little bit.

Thanks,

Kathy




On Wed, 10 Oct 2001, Paul M. Carey wrote:

> Kathy,
> 
> I use Bicarb Soda in all my tanks.  I mainly use it to help buffer water and
> to help with maintaining the PH.  I have not had a problem with ph dropping
> or anything but I think that has a lot to do with filtration in general.
> 
> I use one tea spoon / 10 gals  and have found it to work quite well for us
> in the last two years.
> 
> I also use Salt as well in the tank to keep the GH up.
> Epsom's work well.  I don't filter with carbon on much of anything except
> the eclipse which the Endlers are housed in and my Quarantine tank.
> 
> I have used crushed coral substrate but it eventually started to break down
> and started to soften my water.  this was before I used Bicarb soda.  I have
> had some strange experiences however and by no means see this as a normal
> event unless someone else can say that they had similar happen to them?
> 
> I do frequent water changes weekly basis, about 10 to 20 % in all my tanks.
> when I do them I always add bicarb soda.
> 
> Hopefully that will be helpful?
> 
> Paul
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gsas-board@thekrib.com
> [mailto:owner-gsas-board@thekrib.com]On Behalf Of Kathy Olson
> Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 9:15 AM
> To: gsas-board@thekrib.com
> Subject: Endler's livebearers
> 
> 
> 
> Paul,
> 
> We had to leave pretty quick last night, but I wanted to hear how you
> harden the water for your Endler's livebearers.  I heard about adding
> Sodium Bicarbonate but not the ratio.
> 
> I thought it would be good for everyone (myself included) to hear an
> alternative way to harden the water.
> 
> 
> Thanks
> Kathy
> 
>