New Tank

[k2x5]

Hi All,

Ok, so got moved into my new place and I've set up my 55g tank. It'll be cycling for a while so I'm just figuring out what I'll do for stocking.

I would like to keep a community tank. The local water conditions at my new place don't suit the ranges given for most of the fish I'd like to get. pH: 8.0 Hardness: Slightly Hard.

Now, I've read that it's more important to keep steady conditions than it is to replicate the ideal conditions exactly. And, from taking with the lfs, they keep ALL their fish in standard local water.

I've taken a sample just to be sure, and their water is in fact a near exact match to mine.

Would there be any problem keeping them in these conditions, that might not show in the short time they live at the lfs, but might where I am?

Thanks in advance.

[sandy_n]

Depending on the type of fish and how hardy they are they can acclimate to the hardness of the water. There are also ways (without adding stuff to the water) to raise or lower your ph. Unfortunately, I'm not sure about all of them so hopefully someone more knowledgable will pick up this thread and be able to give you some answers. Good luck!

[pinsonpa]

Hey k2x5,

I was in a similar situation recently (but with a much smaller tank (10 gallon). The difference was I wasn't smart enough to figure all of this out BEFORE I bought the fish so you are light years ahead of where I was.

Anyway, I have Cardinal Tetras (which ideally would want a lower pH 6.4-6.8). My tanks pH was/is closer to 7.4, which had me concerned. I have since read exactly what you stated (a more consistant pH is more important to most fish than the pH they are naturally accustomed to). I too tested the water from the lfs where I purchased the Cardinals and their water was similar to mine (7.2).

Your pH is pretty high for some fish (like Cardinals) but it helps that they will be coming from an environment similar to yours. You could just steer clear of fish that like a lower pH or you could try a few things to lower your pH before adding the fish. A few things you might try before you add the fish:

1) Add some drift wood to the decor of your tank. This will bring your pH down a bit and it will have a better chance of being a more permanent adjustment than if you were to add chemicals (which you'd have to add on a regular schedule for a long time if not forever).

2) Adding peat moss to the inside of your filter (depending on the kind of filter you have) can help lower pH too but it would just be a more natural version of the chemicals (you'd have to continue doing it).

3) Adding live plants. If you have enough light to support them, live plants could help. I don't if they actually lower pH, but they would provide benefits to the fish that will help compensate for water parameters that are a little less than ideal.

A tank your size would make for a nice community tank. I'd suggest two different types of small schooling fish (like the Cardinals but maybe something that likes a higher pH or is heartier like Danios). You could have 10 each and then look a getting 2 or 3 of something else colorful but compatible like Blue Rams or Panda Corys.

At any rate, you'll want to do some reading in the species sections (left column of this page). Congrats...this is an exciting time! and nice work doing a FISHLESS CYCLE!!!:19:

[k2x5]

Thanks for the replies.

I was thinking probably stocking the following:

10-15 x Guppies
10-15 x Neons or Cardinals
2 x Gouramis
2 x SAE or 4 x Ottos
2 x Angels

From what I've read most can handle the higher pH quite well.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

If you don't want to have to treat the water too much, you could go with African fish from the big lakes.