Does anyone have good knowledge on plecos?

[Njuarez]

If anyone has a snowball pleco do you know if they can strive in 8-8.2 ph. Also if not how can I keep a consistent ph so I can satisfy a snowball if I get one in the future. Thanks!

 

[Colin_T]

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

 

[Essjay]

GH (hardness) is more important to fish than pH. Our hardness should be around the middle of the hardness range of the fish we keep.
Snowball plecs need hardness in the range 18 to 268 ppm (1 to 15 dH). Somewhere in the middle is ideal.




Altering pH is not something to be undertaken lightly. The three parameters pH, GH and KH are usually high or low together so high pH usually goes with high GH and high KH.
KH buffers the pH against change and if there is lots of it - high KH - it is difficult to change pH. Using a chemical to lower pH usually results in a lower pH for a short while, then the KH pulls it back to it's usual level. Yoyo-ing pH is bad for fish.

 

[Njuarez]

I’m going to have to call but my local petco said California generally has really hard water. Would hard water be bad for snowball plecos?