Cardinal Tetra Is Ph 7.4 Too High?

[marieukxx]

Low range PH is 7.6 and high range PH 7.4 can you keep cardinal tetras with a PH that high? Has anyone had any success?

 

[KittyKat]

They will survive, but they will need to be acclimatized slowly.

In my experience, they will thrive only at lower pHs, so I would personally never keep them in over 7.0.

 

[ATK!!!]

Thw water in my area is extremely high (around 8.2) but after many months of slowly lowering the pH with bogwood i bought some cardinals, they now live happily in pH 7.4 and I have had no problems so far as the shop had the same pH as me. Before you get any you may want to ask what pH the shops water is.

 

[StandbySetting]

You could lower the PH if you wish with bogwood, but the chances are they will have been bred in water with parameters similar to yours and I doubt your LFS is running any form of acidifier in their system, they should be fine, ask the place you buy them from what PH their tanks run at.

 

[marieukxx]

Their PH is lower than mine. I live in Cornwall and we have soft water however for some reason mine is 7.4. I really love Cardinal Tetras but am worried they will die in my water.

 

[StandbySetting]

They shouldn't die, with Cardinal tetra's the mineral content of the water plays a big part and your soft water will be beneficial, you could add bog wood, or peat to reduce the PH but I personally feel that they'll be fine as long as you acclimatise them properly.

 

[Mikaila31]

I have kept neons just fine in pH 7.4 along with rummy nosed tetras. They will be totally fine IMO.

 

[marieukxx]

Thanks everyone

 

[fluttermoth]

Your 60l is fully stocked already, marie, surely?

 

[marieukxx]

Your 60l is fully stocked already, marie, surely?

I lost one platy for some unknown reason and I took 5 back and kept the girls as advised.

 

[fluttermoth]

Your 60l is fully stocked already, marie, surely?

I lost one platy for some unknown reason and I took 5 back and kept the girls as advised.

oh, I see, I missed that bit!

 

[KittyKat]

[...] but the chances are they will have been bred in water with parameters similar to yours [...]

From what I understand the vast majority of cardinals are wild caught because it is too much bother trying to farm them.