Post by Bumblebee on Jul 18, 2006 11:55:29 GMT 10
If you are setting up a substrate for a planted tank housing guppys there are a few precautions that need to be taken. while guppies can survive happily at a low ph I find they will die off and develop columnaris like diseases or just mysteriously die without a higher KH (carbonate hardness) KH usually reffers to the ammount of minerals in the water, it also acts as a buffer in water that prevents rapid ph swings. Plants will gradually remove minerals from the water and lower KH. plants will also produce 02 during light hours (raising ph) and C02 during the night time (lowering ph) if the planted tank has not been carefully maintained this swing may actually become harmfull to fish. as the KH is removed from the water by the plants,daily PH swings will become more pronounced, eventually leading to 'Acidosis' a condition where the actual blood of the fish becomes acidic, resulting in illness or death. the opposite is 'alkalosis' where the blood of the fish becomes too alkaline. depending one where the fish originated (in alkaline or acidic conditions) will determine which one of these conditions most effect it. Guppies come from fairly Alkaline conditions (ph 7.4-7.8) with a very high KH (80+) so acidosis may effect them quite badly.
When mixing the sand substrate (approx 5kg for per 100lt at 2cm cover) make sure to add ingredients like shellgrit or coral sand, I use 3 handfulls per 30 lt, this may be added at higher ammounts if you have low ph or very soft water. Into this can be mixed planted tank foods and latterite. the substrate is then spread over the bottom of the tank and then gravel added over the top at 2-3 cm thickness to prevent it being disturbed by fish. Only light gravel vacs are needed as plants feed off the mulm produced by the fish.
When mixing the sand substrate (approx 5kg for per 100lt at 2cm cover) make sure to add ingredients like shellgrit or coral sand, I use 3 handfulls per 30 lt, this may be added at higher ammounts if you have low ph or very soft water. Into this can be mixed planted tank foods and latterite. the substrate is then spread over the bottom of the tank and then gravel added over the top at 2-3 cm thickness to prevent it being disturbed by fish. Only light gravel vacs are needed as plants feed off the mulm produced by the fish.
