Hey folks I have two not so related questions, but I haven't been able to find the exact answers per se on the internets
So I have my cycled tank with an otocinclus. He rapidly cleared my tank but takes algae pellets readily and is fat and seems quite content. I have been growing algae on some smooth rocks in a shallow dish on my windowsill, but I was wondering if that yucky green water in the dish will help "seed" my tank with more algae. I could definitely pour some of it in every couple of days. I would love to get him a few friends, but not until I can provide some more natural food for them.
Next question, I have been aging (boiling and soaking it in new water) this chunk of driftwood for over a month down and got its pH in a 5 gal bucket to 6.6-6.8-ish so I finally put it in the tank this evening after a water change. So my tap water is 7.0 and I was worried that in subsequent water changes that the difference may cause issues. Is the pH difference a big deal, or so long as I do smaller wc things will be ok? I've had lil'dude for 6 weeks now and I would hate to loose him, plus hopefully some more oto friends in the future.
I have the API freshwater test kit and check my parameters every other day now, will go down to every 3 days or so after month 2 passes. Anyhoo.. I am just an avid learner of the ways of fish keeping so all advice, etc is much appreciated! Thanks!
So I have my cycled tank with an otocinclus. He rapidly cleared my tank but takes algae pellets readily and is fat and seems quite content. I have been growing algae on some smooth rocks in a shallow dish on my windowsill, but I was wondering if that yucky green water in the dish will help "seed" my tank with more algae. I could definitely pour some of it in every couple of days. I would love to get him a few friends, but not until I can provide some more natural food for them.
Next question, I have been aging (boiling and soaking it in new water) this chunk of driftwood for over a month down and got its pH in a 5 gal bucket to 6.6-6.8-ish so I finally put it in the tank this evening after a water change. So my tap water is 7.0 and I was worried that in subsequent water changes that the difference may cause issues. Is the pH difference a big deal, or so long as I do smaller wc things will be ok? I've had lil'dude for 6 weeks now and I would hate to loose him, plus hopefully some more oto friends in the future.
I have the API freshwater test kit and check my parameters every other day now, will go down to every 3 days or so after month 2 passes. Anyhoo.. I am just an avid learner of the ways of fish keeping so all advice, etc is much appreciated! Thanks!