Seems to me this does not take into account that the ionic content of the
water may be close to the same from the "higher" pH to the "lower" one --
such as when one goes from say a 7.1 down to 5.4. I can get a higher pH
water here in Portland w/out greatly altering either KH or GH, and I don't
ever use much more than just some crushed shell or aragonite to keep pH from
tanking (outside of Rift Lake tanks, at least). Don't use much NaCl either
unless a problem (eg: Velvet) calls for it. Granted, I don't have a way to
test ionic content, but my tests do show that my water is still considered
"soft" even at pHs above 7. And yet in the above scenario, I *can* kill a
fish by just dumping it into a 5.4 tank from out of a 7.1 tank, even a
species which can theoretically handle the 5.4 if acclimated slowly, and
despite the fact that it doesn't seem to me that the ionic content would be
that different.
However, when I "shoot the elevator to the top floor" by dumping Rift Lake
buffer into a tank that was previously at about 7.4-ish and relatively soft,
sending it up to KH 13 and pH 8.3 (and goodness knows what GH or ionic
content), and the fish don't even seem to notice, well, I must say I am
stumped by this "ionic is the cause" answer. If this IS the case, can you
explain it to me so I get it? 'Cause I don't.
Mebbee I is just thick inna head or sumpin' -- dunno. ;-)
Thanks!
Julie <'><
PS: FYI, the male Boeseman was 11 years old at least, and my guess is he
woulda lived for at least another 3 to 5 years barring that misfortune. My
6-year-old Coen River Trifasciatas are still breeding like champs, too.
Rainbows (as opposed to Blue-Eyes) can live a long time given good care. I
don't think a decade is uncommon from what I have heard over the years.
>From: Gary Lange <rainbowfish4u2 at yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: r_m_l at yahoogroups.com
>To: r_m_l at yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [RML] Re: Rainbow Size Frustration -- Melanotaenia praecox
>Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 13:49:02 -0800 (PST)
>
>too many questions :-) Ionic - doesn't just mean salt. You had a pretty
>good answer from the fellow that you quoted to the list from the forum. It
>means Ca, Mg, salt, as in Na Cl iron, sulfate carbonates and the whole
>list. All of those add up. <snip>