Cichlids In Hard Water With High Nitrates

[2excitedkids]

We have a planted 260l community tank with out smallest fish being platys. We love the look of cichlids but it looks like our water is probably incompatible.
We have hard alkaline water with pH of 7.5 and nitrate of 15-20 from the tap.

I saw a beautiful yellow coloured severum at lfs .They said would be ok in hard water but with further research I noted that they do not like high nitrate and this can cause hole in the head

Are there any colouful cichlids that would be happy and healthy in our water ..or should we forget about them. Wouldn't want any aggressive ones.

We do a 25% water change weekly..any more than that would be difficult.


Any ideas??

 

[minxfishy]

Well I keep my SA cichlids in a ph of 7.6 and have had no issues with them at all. I always make sure I acclimatise them slowly over a period of time, adding some of my tank water, taking some of the LFS water away, until eventually they have slowly got used to the ph. No issues so far.

Yes they need as low as possible nitrates, however, again, I have 10ppm from my tap water so keeping it any lower is impossible, but I do 2 50% water changes at week and the levels never rise above 20.

Sev's can also be quite aggressive, with cichlids is often depends on the personality of the fish. Also you would need to make sure that you have no fish small enough to fit in their mouths as they would see them as food.

Have you considered Bolivian rams, they are quite hardy and would have no issues with the water, also maybe Keyhole cichlds, which are quite peaceful?

 

[tenohfive]

I've got German Blue Rams in a pH of about 8.2, and so long as I'm doing minimum twice weekly 30% water changes they're fine, if thats any use to you.

 

[2excitedkids]

I've got German Blue Rams in a pH of about 8.2, and so long as I'm doing minimum twice weekly 30% water changes they're fine, if thats any use to you.

Is it a german blue ram on your profile picture..very beautiful.

 

[tenohfive]

I've got German Blue Rams in a pH of about 8.2, and so long as I'm doing minimum twice weekly 30% water changes they're fine, if thats any use to you.

Is it a german blue ram on your profile picture..very beautiful.

It is, and in all honesty to date they're the best looking fish I've ever owned. And full of character - much more bold than anything else in my community tank.