Wow, 'ouston is got more than just saltwater?

[zephard]

Before Houston raised freshwater fish for about 12 years climaxing in 2000 with 2 29 gal cichlid tanks. One Tang, and one Tropheus tank (until adult then sell back)

Well moved to Houston in 2000, couldn't get freshwater to live (down in the Clear Lake area). Gave up, in 2004 decided to try Saltwater (it was a dream. A very fun, exciting dream. A very expensive dream.) Sold saltwater tank in 2006 due to time expense. Then the house in 2008.......

... Now getting a house in the Kingwood area, and well want fish again.
Don't want to afford Salt, so looking at fresh. Was going to try to get a 75 gal around December, but a co-worker gave me a 55 gal for free. Couldn't pass that up. So around June will be hoping to start setting it up, after get some things for the house. Started researching what I would want to put in the tank. Tropheus was my first desire.

Start looking on the Internet, my how the freshwater sites have grown since last I looked for freshwater info. Jeebus found me on Trophs.com and sent me here.............

So now I am lurking here to.......

[cichlid1409]

welcome! ask anything/everything you need to and dont forget to post pics of all your stuff!

[Zulaab]

Zephard,

Welcome to the Houston Fish box. We have several members here who are Tropheus keepers and can help you out :)
I dont know what the water quality is like in Kingwood, but this can easily be rectified and changes to your water can resolve the issue quickly. IE add materials to the water to make it very compatible.

Now a 55g tank is kind of a small tank still for Tropheus in my opinion, but I think it can work for you. Like you said a 75 or bigger would work well.

ask questions... we will answer you :)

Again welcome to the box :)
Jesper

[jeebus]

Welcome!

[h0nkzz]

Welcome to the forum!

[zephard]

Thanks.

One of the first questions I would have is about water quality, coming out of saltwater, I am use to a RO/DI unit, then add back the ions with the salt.

Is a RO unit still a good Idea?
Do they still sell the different lakes salt mixes?

[jeebus]

Oh man.. I can't answer the first question. I bet Ek could best handle that one.

The second one I can though..

You have some options with salt/minerals. When it comes to salt, what is real popular with Tropheus keepers is Epsom Salt. It helps with digestion, and helps as a bloat preventative (which Tropheus are notorious for). I use a tablespoon for every 10 gallons of replaced water after a water change.

Also, most Houston water carries a high enough ph that you don't have to add anything to the water to buffer, but you can still add a product like SeaChem's Lake Tang buffer. I think API makes a Lake Tang trace mineral as well.

Because my water has a high enough ph out of the tap, beyond water treatment (I use API Stress Coat+ but others use Prime or Amquel+) I add only Epsom Salt.

[tbui1178]

Welcome!

[nacra99]

Hi! Welcome!

For the RO/DI, you really won't be using the DI part for freshwater very much. In fact, if you are thinking of keeping fish that can survive in about 7.8-ish, you really won't need the RO unit at all. Houston tapwater should be fine.

What kind of inhabitants are you planning to keep?

[alexarae]

welcome

[Delock]

Kingwood water is pretty good for Trophs. So you will not have a problem coming straight out the tap.

[eklikewhoa]

Like the others have stated, straight from the tap works.

But honestly in a better world using RO/DI and readding the needed minerals,nutrients,etc. would be the best! Parameters change with tap and it could change from day to day being able to control that with RO/DI would be ideal!

Welcome to the BOX!

[zephard]

Thank you.
I was thinking of the RO but not the DI. That way it would go through a large filter, then a fine filter, then a carbon filter, then the RO.

The DI is more than I would feel would be needed to do, since its not saltwater.

Guess i just didn't have a good experience in Clear Lake before I used a RO/DI and just felt cautious. But my wife will be happy to hear we don't need the RO unit. It waste water as it does the filtering. And that cost money.

Yes want to run tropheus and worry now about my filter system.