My Water OK for African Cichlids?

NetMax · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 614

"Fish Heads" wrote in message%Wa.1530725$ZC.225541@news.easynews.com...
> Hello,
> I've had a Rainbowfish tank and a Barb tank for a while. I was
thinking
> of starting up a African cichlid tank and actually thinking it might be
> easier for me (probably working with some of the blue and yellow
peacock
> types). Water for my house is from a well with GH about 18 and pH=7.7.
> I've been using the well water for a long time with my other fish
mixing
> about 60% RO water and 40% well water.
>
> Thanks in advance!

IMO, looks good. Just stop cutting the well water with RO. Keep in mind
that well water parameters are not usually static, affected by the season
and sometimes rainfall (my current well goes from 6 to 38dgH annually).
You can make your own measurements, but doing small often water changes
will 'ease' the tank in the direction of the well's changes. Do measure
the well when your are at extremes (extreme drought and high
rainfall/snowmelt) to see if you should reduce your W/C at these times.
Remember to let your well water sample 'air' for 24 hours for a valid pH
measurement.

NetMax

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>cichlids

Fish Heads · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 11

Hello,
I've had a Rainbowfish tank and a Barb tank for a while. I was thinking
of starting up a African cichlid tank and actually thinking it might be
easier for me (probably working with some of the blue and yellow peacock
types). Water for my house is from a well with GH about 18 and pH=7.7.
I've been using the well water for a long time with my other fish mixing
about 60% RO water and 40% well water.

Thanks in advance!

NetMax · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 614

"Fish Heads" wrote in message$cI2.220116@news.easynews.com...
> Thanks...that's good input on the well information. Just out of
curiousity,
> how deep is your well. I checked my water again today and GH is down
to 16
> from my last measured 18 back in the beginning of April. pH appears to
be
> identical to what it was at that time. I have a very deep well and am
> wondering if that is keeping it a little more static.

I think my pump is at 120' in a 180' well, 8.3 to 8.4 pH and 14 to 17
dkH. Wells have there own personalities. Today I tested a customer's
well water which was 7.6pH, 28dgH, but only 2.8dkH. His tetras (!) are
doing well, so my advice was to either do nothing, or cut the tank water
changes with rainwater and add sodium bicarbonate to boost the kH. His
numbers were somewhat unique.

NetMax

Fish Heads · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 11

Thanks...that's good input on the well information. Just out of curiousity,
how deep is your well. I checked my water again today and GH is down to 16
from my last measured 18 back in the beginning of April. pH appears to be
identical to what it was at that time. I have a very deep well and am
wondering if that is keeping it a little more static.

jasnmullns · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Not really, all of my peacocks cichlids do very wel in these water condions.
nitrate =0-20 ppm
nitrite=0 ppm
total hardness= 150+
total alkalinity = 120-180 ppm
ph level= 8.2
you can get test strips that well help you get your water condions were you
need them for african cichlids.There is also tons of information on specific
needs of african cichlids species on the net.