Help with southeast Asian stocking

[Essjay]

The API water softener pillow will reduce GH by absorbing calcium and magnesium (the hardness minerals) but there is a downside. It does this by swapping calcium and magnesium with sodium, so the sodium level in the tank water increases. Freshwater fish have not evolved to cope with sodium in the water. The same applies to those water softeners which use salt to soften mains water.

 

[Coryking]

The API water softener pillow will reduce GH by absorbing calcium and magnesium (the hardness minerals) but there is a downside. It does this by swapping calcium and magnesium with sodium, so the sodium level in the tank water increases. Freshwater fish have not evolved to cope with sodium in the water. The same applies to those water softeners which use salt to soften mains water.

Okay thanks for the information would there be a way to stop or remove the sodium added. I would imagine water changes would decrease the sodium but is there any other way to lower it many thanks again

 

[Essjay]

Water changes would lower it temporarily then it would build up again. The only realistic way to soften hard tap water is to mix it with a source of pure water (RO, distilled, rain water)

 

[Coryking]

Water changes would lower it temporarily then it would build up again. The only realistic way to soften hard tap water is to mix it with a source of pure water (RO, distilled, rain water)

Okay thanks for the help essjay. If I was to use Distilled would I have to use it every water change or would it be once here and there

 

[Wills]

Hello there. So I've just looked into a aquarium book that I have not looked at for a while and I've come across two barbs. Arulius barb (Puntius arulius) and Odessa barb (Pethia padamya) are these barbs suitable with the fish I currently have and some glass catfish when I get some. I've done a lot of research on lowering the GH and I've come across to different ways. Lowering the PH and using API Water Softener Pillow, do you think any of these would work. Also I will most likely aqua scape the tank in 6 or so months since I'm currently re-scaping my 20 gallon. Many thanks again and I will post pictures of the 20gallon once scaped I'm just trying to get the stem plants.

I think the Odessa Barb could be a good choice in a 30 gallon tank but the Aurlius is too big, they do get really big over time. I agree with Essjay about using RO water and not temporary products like water pillows, the important thing is to keep it stable. So if your tap is hard embrace it or use RO and remineralise it to get the soft water you want.

Wills

 

[Coryking]

I think the Odessa Barb could be a good choice in a 30 gallon tank but the Aurlius is too big, they do get really big over time. I agree with Essjay about using RO water and not temporary products like water pillows, the important thing is to keep it stable. So if your tap is hard embrace it or use RO and remineralise it to get the soft water you want.

Wills

Thanks a lot for the help Wills. I have thought about getting an RO filter but it is always better to check other alternative first. So I will definitely get some glass catfish and then either lambchop rasbora, pentazona barb or Odessa barb. Thanks again for all the help Wills and Essjay. Once I aquacape it I'll post some images of it. I think I'll go for a black water hybrid my plans may change though. Thanks again

 

[Colin_T]

Pentazona barbs aren't the easiest to keep. Many are wild caught and starving when they come in and need good water (correct pH & GH) and food to recover.

Cherry barbs and checkered barbs are small and peaceful.

 

[Coryking]

Pentazona barbs aren't the easiest to keep. Many are wild caught and starving when they come in and need good water (correct pH & GH) and food to recover.

Cherry barbs and checkered barbs are small and peaceful.

Thanks for the help. I'm sure I'll manage. It wont be the first time I've kept difficult fish. So since there wild caught I'm assuming they won't take to flakes and pellets straight away would frozen brine shrimp, frozen Cyclops and frozen Dafina be suitable for the first few weeks. Or would they need live foods. Many thanks again

 

[Colin_T]

Most of them do take flake but spit out pellets. They will have a go at most frozen foods too and any live food that is offered gets taken.

 

[Coryking]

Most of them do take flake but spit out pellets. They will have a go at most frozen foods too and any live food that is offered gets taken.

Thanks for the information. I will aqua scape the tank in a few months then lower the GH and I reckon I will get the barbs first. Thanks again for the help

 

[Essjay]

If I was to use Distilled would I have to use it every water change

Yes, you'd have to use the exact same mixture at every water change, either the same tap:distilled ratio, or just RO with the exact same amount of remineralisation salts added. The water would need to be premixed before adding to the tank.

 

[Coryking]

Yes, you'd have to use the exact same mixture at every water change, either the same tap:distilled ratio, or just RO with the exact same amount of remineralisation salts added. The water would need to be premixed before adding to the tank.

Okay thanks for the help essjay. I've never done anything like this before so I am a bit clue less on RO and distilled water

 

[Coryking]

Hello again. I've been gifted a 40 gallon tank which I will use for the southeast Asian themed aquarium. I've decided to do a black water planted hybrid where I will have lots of stem plants at the back and tons of botanicals in the front. It will be lightly tanned. I'm set on around 9-12 glass catfish. However there is a few things I need a little help with. One of them being substrate. I'm going to put aquasoil in plastic bags at the back for planting but I am unsure what decortication substrate I should put substrate on top. I would like it to look good with the botanicals and still be something similar to what substrate they have in the different rivers. The next thing is lighting. The new tank does not come with a light and my old light does not fit. So I'm wondering what budget options there are. I've looked at many different options and I'm wondering what do you think will be the best. Finally plants I've been thinking of using dwarf cattail (Typha minima) for something different and I'm wondering if anyone has tried it before. Thanks again for the help. Also if there's any fish that have not been mentioned I am open to suggestions.

 

[Byron]

Are the glass catfish, which I assume to be the species Kryptopterus vitreolus, to be the only fish? I ask because earlier in this thread other species were mentioned and most would not be at all compatible.

For substrate you want sand. No one wants mud or mulm which would be authentic, so sand is the closest natural material. This fish occurs in river drainages in peninsular and southeastern Thailand, found in gently-flowing streams and rivers having still water pools or margins; the fish rests in still water and stalks prey in gentle currents. Ng & Kottelat (2013) believe this species has a fairly small distribution range. All aquarium fish are wild caught.

 

[Coryking]

Are the glass catfish, which I assume to be the species Kryptopterus vitreolus, to be the only fish? I ask because earlier in this thread other species were mentioned and most would not be at all compatible.

For substrate you want sand. No one wants mud or mulm which would be authentic, so sand is the closest natural material. This fish occurs in river drainages in peninsular and southeastern Thailand, found in gently-flowing streams and rivers having still water pools or margins; the fish rests in still water and stalks prey in gentle currents. Ng & Kottelat (2013) believe this species has a fairly small distribution range. All aquarium fish are wild caught.

Thanks for the feedback the glass catfish is the only fish I'm set on getting the other fish I'm still considering. So with the sand what type a of sand fine grain and what sort of colour.