Buffering RO water

Byron

I don't know. When I bought my 29g with hood, it came with an Aqueon tube which I sent to recycling and replaced with the Life-Glo. But over a 10g, and if this is the same type (no idea), it may be fine. Does it give a purplish hue, or cool white like the 6500K tubes/CFL?

Tubes have to be replaced every 12 months, they lose intensity as they burn and after 12 months are too dim to be sufficient. I find the Life-Glo can go longer, maybe 18 months, because they are better made.

maxw47

It appears to give off a red/pink hue, but I have reddish colored gravel in their, so the tank always looks kind of like that, with all lights. It has been about 6 months, so I might just get a new one soon anyways.

maxw47

Oh I forgot something. How much will the aragonite effect my GH?

Byron

It will raise it, but how much I can't say. In the livebearer tank this won't really matter, since those fish need this hard mineral.

maxw47

So should I not at Equilibrium to the livebearer tanks? Or just a little bit to suppliment the plants?

Byron

You won't need Equilibrium for plants if you have calcareous sand for the substrate and this will add calcium and magnesium. Flourish Comprehensive will then supply the other nutrients sufficiently.

In the soft water tank you need Equilibrium to add sufficient calcium and magnesium.

maxw47

Got it. I have a bottle of flourish (just says flourish). Would that do instead of flourish comprehensive?

Byron

You probably have it. "Flourish" is the name of a line of products. Under this name it will read "Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium" in smaller black print. Other products will read "Excel", "Potassium" or whatever. You want the Comprehensive.

maxw47

Oh. I thought it sayed "flourish comprehensive". So I already have it.
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maxw47

Is there anything I should do for driftwood that I would put in the tank? Do I need to worry about tannins and it raising pH? Or should the water be buffered enough? This is for the livebearer tanks.