water chemistry for synodontis njassae lake malawi

[Netnie]

hello

I have a question about the water chemistry of lake malawi.
I'm from Holland and here they say that the KH of lake malawi is very high, between 10 and 12 KH.
For many years I've hold my fish at these value.
By the last contest I was in I've heard that my electric conductivity was to high, about 550 and should be about 210 to 250.
Since then I ask myself the question how it could be that the electric conductivity can be so low with that high KH and started to look on the net for answers.
The answer I found is that the KH is much lower in lake malawi, about 6 to 7 KH, instead of 10 to 12 KH.
It seems to me that the last one is correct, with that KH that low electric conductivity can be possible.
Could anyone tell me if that information that I found is correct, or if not, what the right water chemistry of lake malawi is?

With kind regard, Netnie

[MatsP]

If you look down a few posts in this thread, you'll find some info on what the water is like in Lake Malawi (and L. Tanganyika).

--
Mats

[Netnie]

Hi

Thank you for the information.
I guess my feelings about it were right and the water is soft, instead of hard.
Now I will turn to the official bond of aqua terra here in Holland with this information.
because it's sad that people here in Holland are so wrong and we all keep these fish in the wrong kind of water.
And I hope that I can contribute to fixing this mistake here in Holland.

With kind regard, Netnie

[sidguppy]

hoooooo

you're making a few very BIG assumptions where there is no proof whatsoever to do so.

a KH (carbonat hardiness) of 8 instead of 12-20 isn't "soft" at all, it's just less hard.

FWIW Lake Malawi still has pretty hard water when it comes to dissolved calcium and magnesium.

naming it "soft" puts it for the hobbyists into the same league as for example South American Amaxon water or West African riverine....wich it is definitely NOT.

Lake Malawi has HARD water.
the fact that it doesn't get as "hard" as Tanganyikan water doesn't make it "soft" all of a sudden.

because it's sad that people here in Holland are so wrong and we all keep these fish in the wrong kind of water.
And I hope that I can contribute to fixing this mistake here in Holland.

that's a pretty arrogant thing to state, assuming that "we ALL keep this fish in the wrong kind of water"

you cannot speak for others how they keep their njassae's, simply because you do not know how they keep them, let alone speak for the majority.

a few links:
THIS LINK shows that despite less conductivity than Tanganyikan water, Lake Malawi still has a fair load of saltiness (hovers around 200-240muS) and the pH is between 7.7-8.1 wich is fairly alcali. true soft water is neutral or even acidic well into 5 or even 4 (black water).

THIS LINK shows that Lake Malawi can be compared to Lake Victoria, except for example there's still a significant high amount of sodium (Na) wich makes it quite salty compared to riverine water, more salty than Victiria, a fair bit less than Tanganyika.

THIS LINK shows the exact amount of salts compared to both Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi.


surprise surprise.....Lake Malawi contains even MORE Calcium than Lake Tanganyika (!); Malawi has 16.4-19.8mg/L Ca whereas Tanganyika has 9.2-17.6 mg/L Ca.....

so in all, given scientific research instead of your assumptions we can conclude that following international science Lake Malawi's water is HARDER than Lake Tanganyika; hardiness is first measured by taking in the amount of calcium dissolved. only after that comes the amount of carbonate wich is lower than in Tanganyika.

next time before you start speaking for "all of us in 'Holland', please do some research.

[MatsP]

Sidguppy,

You are absolutely right here. 8 or 12 is still very much on the "hard" side of water.

0-3 DH is considered soft [see http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hardness.htm]

--
Mats

[Netnie]

Hi

Excuse me for the way I wrote.
I mean softer with the KH, then what they say here.
It could be that there are some people in Holland who know this.
but what I mean is that all of the people that are members of aquarium communities and give themselves up for the official contest, wich starts at a contest in every community, then every county, and then the contest for the best aquarium of the country are being told that the KH should be between 10 and 12.
This is the mistake I am telling about I hope to get fixed.
Sorry if I offended you with it.

With Kind Regard Netnie

[Bas Pels]

Dear Netnie,

Believe me, guite a lot of people in the Nethetlands are not a member of this organization. I myself and Sidguppy are 2 good examples.

In fact, just because of this contest, and quite a lot of the connected rules, I'm not a member.

However, this is a very NL problem, most people reading this topic will not understand. besides, I don't think this is an issue for this forum, as this forum is independend of the organzation.

[sidguppy]

exactly.

it was for an approach like that, too rigid and completely ignorant of reality that I already chose NOT to join the NBAT (Dutch aquariumkeepers association) at the tender age of 13 or 14 or so.

the people on this forum and most other forums are fish-keepers, not "underwater-planted-garden-farmers". it's almost another hobby.

[Netnie]

Hi

I guess I can keep saying sorry, so, once again, sorry.
The reason why asked this question is because the synodontis njassae's I keep in my tank and I really want to keep them in water with the right chemistry.
I've looked on many dutch sites and it seems the most say the same as the N.B.A.T does.
So I guess that many people believe what the N.B.A.T. says.
The links given to me trough here are the same ones as I found on the net that told me different.
So thats why I asked it here again, because there are a lot of people here that keep african catfish.
Still thank you for the information.
And I've went with all this information to those people of that N.B.A.T and they will come togheter now to explore and discuss about this issue again, so I think only good came out of it and in the meantime I can keep my synodontis njassae's with the right water values now, and I hope that in time, when I go to those dutch sites that told it wrong, I see the right values then.

Thanks and sorry if I came to the wrong place with this question.

With Kind Regard, Netnie

[Chrysichthys]

I don't think it makes any practical difference as far as the fish are concerned. Even within one of the lakes, I expect the water chemistry will vary from one location to the next, and with the seasons.

[Marc van Arc]

which starts at a contest in every community, then every county, and then the contest for the best aquarium of the country

Hi,
Problem with these kind of competitions is that some total strangers who call themselves experts will tell you what's wrong with your tank according to their rules.
Keeping fishes isn't about rules nor about being the best of the country but about enjoying your tank and the creatures living in it. Getting or becoming wanted advice is always okay, but see to it that this competition will not frustrate you in any way, just because you like your tank and they might tell you that you shouldn't....

PS: no need to say sorry this time

[Netnie]

Hi

What you say is true.
The only reason I let myself in with these contests is to see what they have to say about my tank, and it doesn't cost me a thing, i would't pay for it.
If I should listen to what they say, I could rebuild my tank every year.
I like my tank how it is, and don't change a thing.
I was only shocked that they are wrong about something such simple as the water chemistry of the lake and I must say, I am having quiet al lot of fun to discuss this with them, and got them so far now, that they are reconsidering it.

With kind Regard Netnie