PerceptivePesce

Does anyone else use a 32g Brute garbage can to hold water? I can't seem to find a weight rating for this can. I'm wondering if I could reinforce the can container by wrapping the can in duct tape? I also want to add a bulkhead fitting to the bottom of the can, will that weaken the containers ability to hold water? Also, I like the brute dolly, it is rated for 250lbs. The dolly's footprint isn't larger than the footprint of the can- I really like that.

teehee, this image is also the official chemical equation for the process of me digesting info and coming up with more Qs. 😊

I'm out of questions. Maybe I'll come up with some after I digest this thread a bit. Somewhat related. I stumbled into a reddit thread where the big brains were hypothesizing about archaea being the beneficial organism in low pH tanks. They were saying something like bacteria can't live in lower pH, the bad kind nor the beneficial kind, and that archaea were responsible for doing the nitrogen cycle conversion stuff. Something like that, I def could be recalling wrong. Twas interesting tho

Y'all are cute 🥰 @AnimalNerd98 So, is CO2 wasted in high kH solutions? Does low kH water retain more CO2?

@JoeQmakes the best threads! (for me to hijack! 😍 😁) I'm trying to understand kH & pH like Joe. Let me try asking some Qs, maybe that will help us both gain insight. Here's what I think I understand so far. Correct me if I'm wrong, please! pH is an abbreviation of "power of hydrogen". When a pH reading is taken it is measuring the H+ in a solution. When a solution has more H+ it is acidic, when a solution has more H- it is basic. So my question is, when CO2 is introduced into aquarium water is it rearranging the kH carbonate compounds? In lay terms could you say it (CO2) is "eating" the kH?

There has to be a happy ending for this thread (and then I'll start a journal 😊) I ordered a 90g aquarium from LFS and I picked it up yesterday. I figured if I'm paying full price, I may as well get the biggest 4' footprint tank. I used GILA black window treatment on the back instead of spray paint. It looks good. Here's a pic of products/tools I used to get the job done: The End.

Hey, neighbor, I'm from NW LA. I'm new around this forum, too. I dont have much more to offer other than a greeting, but I'll see ya around! Good luck! @Ken Burkelook here, we got another LA person!

I've been researching pre-made shrimp mixes, trying to find out what's in them, and/or reviewing their post-additionwater analysis. (One manufacturer replied with a water analysis!) I've also been playing with rotalabutterfly.com and wondering if I could add different multiple Ca & Mg sources so it's not all Sulfide. Maybe replace some of the Sulfide with some Na and Cl ions. Does anyone have any experience doing this or have any opinions on doing this? Also, on the calculator, I noticed dolomite mineral adds Ca & Mg and increases kH. Can anyone explain why? Maybe rotala left out the CO3 part?

Yes, this, you deciphered me correctly. I was talking about compounds that end in o3 or o4

Cool. I'm gonna keep trying to fully understand this but for now I'm just gonna monkey see, monkey do. 🙊 What do you use for micros? Please 🙏 tell me you use a premix! GLA has some micro powder...

With K2CO3? It was easy to confirm the CaSO4.2H2O and MgSO4.7H2O you linked from GLA. There's lots of info about GH. Not so much for KH.

@Mmiller2001I asked about co2 because i read some folks on the internet talking about how the KH compounds with o3 break down better with co2 and that if you're not using co2 then kh compounds with o4 are better. Something like that. I tried to find more info on this but I cant find anything, so I'm not sure if this is true. Do you know? The potassium carbonate you linked is K2CO3 and I was wondering if you chose that bc you use co2.

@Mmiller2001I'm extremely interested in this epiphyte tank, and I'm not ashamed to hound you about it. 🐶 You mentioned sand for this tank, so you're using inert substrate? Are you going to use drift wood to tie the tridents to, to get that weeping effect?

I'm so sorry, I didn't intend to create desire in your soul. Be strong, practice self control!

Punk is super cute. I loves him! Great pattern! There is an oranda listed on goldfish Island who's whole dorsal is flopped over. They note it in the description and he's maybe $10-20 dollars cheaper than a perfectly formed gf his size. But he has awesome markings, a cute face, and seems to zoom around just fine in his swim vid. I'd totally get him if I had my tank ready. https://www.goldfishisland.com/product/thai-oranda-sakura-3-5-4-inches-0827to00sa354ta1u1/ Anyway, my point is, it's just the way he was born. ❤

Ah, I see. Your scapes and plants are gorgeous 😍 I'm on pg11 of ur tank journal. I need a break. 😁 Do you still use inert substrate and hardscape? CO2? What kinda shrimps you got?

@Mmiller2001you don't keep fauna in your tanks, right? So that's why you like KCO?

Thanks, I was reading about some ro remineralizers specifically made for shrimp and those products use CaCO & MgCO.

@Mmiller2001why is potassium carbonate added to fresh ro instead of magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate?

Whoa, yall! I contacted Aqueon. A rep replied and asked for a pic of my receipt, which I had, and they are sending me a refund check! I almost can't believe it! The tank is on my backporch, slap full of water, and it isn't leaking. My husband wants to keep this cracked one and patch it, but I want yall to know I'm getting a new tank. I don't want old and busted. I want new hotness!

My husband finished the stand. I found a crack while cleaning. It's circular hidden by the rim. Oh well. The crack pic is upside down I don't feel like fixing it

Woo! My pH meter arrived! It says 8.4 Do you distill liquor? I don't know much about it but I know enough to understand it ain't easy. I chatted with a municipal water worker through email. But I feel like he got cold feet, I could be wrong. I guess we'll see if he replies with helpful info. Thanks for letting me know about the pH of your built water. That's comforting. What products do you use?

There are other things I'd like to use the ro filter for too. Humidifier, quilting iron, hydroponics, and BEER! This is why I really like the idea of a portable RO. I can move the RO to whichever sink or outside spigot I need. If I can figure out if limestone is in our aquifer, maybe I can make bourbon with our tap. 😊 I don't know much about distilling bourbon but I've heard limestone water is needed. I have a name for my bourbon already! Fish Barrel Bourbon.

I used an API test on Sept 2 as well. (In the thread I linked earlier, titled Equilibrium) The GH never turned orange because I have 0 Ca & Mg. The KH turned from blue to yellow on the 15th drop, and using the API conversion, that's about 270ppm of KH.

@rockfisherAye, goldfish are a hardy, long living fish which reminds me of another reason i want optimal water conditions. Shrimp can live up to 3 years if cared for well. Most tropical fish can live 3-5 years in ideal conditions. Goldfish can live up to 30 years. I don't just want an aquarium with fish in it. I want pets in an aquarium.