Cichlids In Alkaline?

[the_lock_man]

Just posted on the main tropical discussion forum, and it was suggested I post over here.

I have a 65l community tank in need of a centrepiece fish or two. I'd love to have small cichlids, preferably vivid colours, but my main issue is that my tank is hard alkaline, pH of 7.8.

Has anyone had success with a dwarf cichlid in hard water?

 

[BethK]

yup, my cacatuoides do fine in a Ph of 8, just makes sure the resat of your stats are good and a varied diet and you should be fine.

I'd have a search and read up of the diff apistos though, some are more tolerate than others.

 

[pirate monkey]

We have hard water here and I have also kept cactuoides. it helps if they are bred locally, but if not as Beth said, keep the water tip top.

Another option is to use RO (reverse osmosis) water and mix it with tap water, this will bring the pH down, but it may be a lot of hassle!

 

[Curiosity101]

As said, try to go for tank bred in higher pH rather than wild caught. And so long as all your other stats are good they should be fine. They may not be able to breed/be triggered into breeding in a higher pH, but they should live happy, healthy full lives.

I currently have...
A. rotpunkt
A. hongsloi
L. curviceps
N. transvestitus
A. thomasi

All in pH of 7.8, all seem happy and are eating and growing well. The curviceps are also showing some breeding behaviour.

 

[kaivalagi]

Just thought I should pipe up - To be on the safe side when introducing any fish such as Apisto that are normally meant for softer water make sure you acclimatise them over a good deal of time by slowly adding tank water to the baggy they're in, the aim is to avoid any rapid pH change in thier water...if it takes 30 minutes or more that's okay so long as it's slow Don't just temp match over 10 minutes and add a few drops of tank water then bung them in