normal tap water will be fine. theres no need to worry about ph unless you are trying to breed them or have well water with a crazy ph of like 4.5 or somthing way off.
Cichilds from the rift lakes in Africa like a higher pH, 8.0 to 9.0. New world cichlids like a lower pH, 6.5, down to 5.5 for some wild caught species.
That being said, do not try adjusting your pH to suit your fish, it will result in pH swings that can be deadly. Most store bought fish can be acclimated to your tap water, a stable pH is better than trying to target a certain pH.
When you try to deal with adjusting pH, you also have to take hardness into account, which stabilizes pH. Total dissolved solids are another parameter that is often overlooked, especially with folks dealing with new world cichlids. Unless you are starting with reverse osmosis water you are best off using your tap water. I do, pH of 7.7, gh 190, tds near 200, and I breed angels by the thousands.
I have had a fish tank for over twenty years and never put in all these chemicals in my fish tank and all my fish have all been ok think about it does anybody go out to sea and check for ph levels or ammonia or anything else ? just normal tap water as long as it is the right temp it will be okay
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normal tap water will be fine. theres no need to worry about ph unless you are trying to breed them or have well water with a crazy ph of like 4.5 or somthing way off.
Cichilds from the rift lakes in Africa like a higher pH, 8.0 to 9.0. New world cichlids like a lower pH, 6.5, down to 5.5 for some wild caught species.
That being said, do not try adjusting your pH to suit your fish, it will result in pH swings that can be deadly. Most store bought fish can be acclimated to your tap water, a stable pH is better than trying to target a certain pH.
When you try to deal with adjusting pH, you also have to take hardness into account, which stabilizes pH. Total dissolved solids are another parameter that is often overlooked, especially with folks dealing with new world cichlids. Unless you are starting with reverse osmosis water you are best off using your tap water. I do, pH of 7.7, gh 190, tds near 200, and I breed angels by the thousands.
I have had a fish tank for over twenty years and never put in all these chemicals in my fish tank and all my fish have all been ok think about it does anybody go out to sea and check for ph levels or ammonia or anything else ? just normal tap water as long as it is the right temp it will be okay
In my fresh water tanks, I use the water conditioner NovAqua. It has a stress coat, dechlor and keeps the PH at a perfect 7.2.
Can't use it in the salt water tank, it has to be higher, so I add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per gallon. Shark likes it around 8.4