Hard Alkaline water

[BettaBettas]

What fish like or thrive/live in Hard Alkaline water? I know inverts love that type of water and do really good in it! (ghost shrimp, apple snails, more snails, clams etc) but what type of fish like it?
This fish would have to meet these requirements

Is a small schooling fish
Can live in a 5 Gallon aquarium (with its school)
Brightly colored (not a guppy or endler)
Not a livebearer ^

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[StevenF]

It would be helpful to know the NO3, GH, KH, and PH levels the water. The water may not be as hard as you think. I have heard that african Chiklids do well in such water but I have no experience with them

 

[NickAu]

Technically shrimp do NOT like hard water, they have trouble molting.

 

[DrRob]

I'm going to stop at the schooling fish for a 5 gallon tank. That's your limiting factor right there. You might get away with something the size of mosquito rasboras though, although it would depend on the shape and set up of the tank.

 

[NickAu]

You might get away with something the size of mosquito rasboras though,

That would not be a good idea as the OP stated that the water is hard, and mosquito rasboras prefer soft water.

 

[BettaBettas]

That would not be a good idea as the OP stated that the water is hard, and mosquito rasboras prefer soft water.

the water is not PERMANENTLY hard

 

[NickAu]

HUH? what do you mean?

 

[BettaBettas]

HUH? what do you mean?

water hardness can easily be removed idk if you knew, pretty simple if you do your research, you do a 30% water change (depends on tank size so for a 5 gallon is 30%) with distilled water every 3 days until the hardness of the water is gone, also helps ph, nitrates, ammonia, etc but regularly you do a distilled gallon jug (mix with 1 cup of tap is my recipe) every week (20% water change)

 

[NickAu]

water hardness can easily be removed idk if you knew, pretty simple if you do your research,
you do a 30% water change (depends on tank size so for a 5 gallon is 30%) with distilled water every 3 days until the hardness of the water is gone, also helps ph

Umm I hate to say this but NO its not just that simple. I will wager money on the fact that the method you describe is harming the fish.

 

[BettaBettas]

Umm I hate to say this but NO its not just that simple. I will wager money on the fact that the method you describe is harming the fish.

how much?

 

[BettaBettas]

Umm I hate to say this but NO its not just that simple. I will wager money on the fact that the method you describe is harming the fish.

http://pets.stackexchange.com/questions/6564/is-distilled-or-spring-water-better-for-fish-tanks
I add minerals, I don't know if you knew but, anyhow here is some proof

 

[NickAu]

Im sorry your replies make no sense to me you add distilled water to lower the hardness then you add minerals.

I stand by my comment, all this messing around with water chemistry is causing your problems.

 

[BettaBettas]

Im sorry your replies make no sense to me you add distilled water to lower the hardness then you add minerals.

I stand by my comment, all this messing around with water chemistry is causing your problems.

my problem is an algae bloom, which is obviously caused by the light, I was simply asking in the other post that if anyone knew how to particularly get rid of unicellular algae by itself, please tell me.
I mix 1 gallon of distilled and another half a gallon of my well water.
hope that makes more sense for you.

 

[StandbySetting]

I wouldn't keep any schooling fish in a tank that small personally.

 

[NickAu]

my problem is an algae bloom, which is obviously caused by the light,

Well if its obviously caused by light its an easy fix, cut the number of hours your lights are on, or get a different light.