A Hard Decision

[kcalbat]

SO my waters are extremely hard with a high pH of 8.4.

I currently have 5 beautiful Harlequin Rasboras. Ive been reading more on these fish and many many sites have been emphasizing that these fish even as adults should be kept in soft, acidic water. Though im not interested in doing this, to even breed this fish the ph must be 5 to 5.5.

As much as i like this fish, i know that mine do not show as vivid colors and i know they are not very happy in my waters. I originally wanted to complete my shoal but think it is a good idea to quit this fish. Should i keep my 5 for their lifespan or should i find them a home or try a lfs? I want to keep them but if one by one dies and i dont keep a shoal of the remaining fish will be very unhappy and uncolorful.

If you were in my situation, what would you do?

thank!

(by the way im in the important process of setting up a quarantine tank if anyone has any advise please help me and reply to my below topic!!!)

 

[Gnatfish]

Well the likely-hood is that your water is the same as the lfs. Depends how 'local' the 'lfs' is.

If so, then your fish are probably used to that water. However 8.4 is quite high, may i ask where your located? I keep Harlequin Rasboras in water that as been in 7.8 - 8 maybe higher with high nitrates, and at the moment they are doing great. They have had a visit from Mr Mouth Fungi though, but then again i did cycle with these fish (runs and hides from incoming tomatoes), which took a very short amount of time. But the illness came quite a while after the cycle. At the moment they are looking amazing.

Though im not interested in doing this, to even breed this fish the ph must be 5 to 5.5.

To breed fish they need to be very happy and in condition. In their natural habitat their water is very acidic with a low pH, so this is what makes them happy. When keeping these fish they pH does definitely not have to be that low.

 

[kcalbat]

im a little out out of houston, texas. Water is extremely hard with a high pH. I do not have city water though, i have well water.

The most local fish store is actually in houston, where the pH is around 7.0. Big difference.

I want to keep my fish, but i dont think i want to bring anymore home, especially if i might experience an illness later on like you did, but i want my fish to be happy.

thank you.

 

[Gnatfish]

Wow 7.0 - 8.4 is a biiigg difference. Normally it is recommended to only transfer or change the pH of the fishes environment in 0.3 at a push 0.5 intervals.

In your situation I'm not sure what you could do. Are there an other fish in the tank?

How bigs the tank, because in the future you could think about Lake Malawi Cichlids lol. They like hard water, but its a different ball game I'm afraid to nice friendly community set-ups. Also you could think about a Brackish tank? You could keep one of those in smallish tanks.

Brackish Section - If you want to ask any questions.

 

[kcalbat]

the tank is 44 gallons, no there is no other fish in the tank.

Too small for cichlid tank?

Ill check out the brackish section, that never crossed my mind though.

aargh!

Thanks!

 

[Gnatfish]

I am no expert but 44 gallons sounds alright for African Cichlids.

Generally the tanks need to be long becasue they are aggressive fish and i doubt are good for the bigginner.

Asking on the African Cichlid section is the way forward.

Reading the pinned topic would also be a good start

 

[fish_master]

If ur ph is greatly different wich it is then leave the fish in ther bag/container to adjust to the temperature then slowly pour a small amount of your water say every 30 minutes and they should be ok

 

[Gnatfish]

If ur ph is greatly different wich it is then leave the fish in ther bag/container to adjust to the temperature then slowly pour a small amount of your water say every 30 minutes and they should be ok

Correct me if i'm wrong, but arent the fish already in the tank?

 

[annka5]

I generally reckon that once you've bought the fish, you accept responsibility for it, but.... honestly, I'd suggest rehoming and getting something that'll suit your water more, particularly if they're currently the only fish you have. If you really really want fish that come from softer, more acidic waters, you could get an RO unit; otherwise the likelihood is that the extreme harness and alkalinity will be a makor issue.
Tank bred fish can generally do fine with differing water chemistry to the one they are naturally found in, but such an extreme difference would be really pushing it.