If These Water Parameters Are Ok For Ca Cichlids....

[Cheffi]

OK so forget the perfect harmony bit but mostly everything I read about these fish is contradictory to the last thing.

Fishless cycle going on atm.

My tap water is PH = 8
Had it tested this morning at lfs for GH = +16ppm and KH = 18ppm

My tank is 48" x 18" x27.5" holds 300L = 80 gb galls = 66 us galls

It's set up with sand and rocks, no plants.

Ideally I want one larger fish a shoal of silver dollars and maybe 2 or 3 others. Everytime I see one I like, it can't live with the others so can someone give me a recipe for reasonable compatability? Perleeez

Any suggestions welcome then I can check them out. Thanks.

 

[diademhill]

My tank is 48" x 18" x27.5" holds 300L = 80 gb galls = 66 us galls

No it doesn't - it holds 66 IMPERIAL gallons which is 80 puny US gallons

As you want silver dollars are you set on CA cichlids or would SA ones do?
A severum & a couple of eartheaters would be my choice.

Some bogwood would help with the pH.
Sue

 

[Cheffi]

A severum & a couple of eartheaters would be my choice.

Some bogwood would help with the pH.
Sue

See now you've suggested a severum (which I like) but after putting my water ph at 8 it says that severum like 'soft acidic ph 6-6.8 which I don't have. So surely it wouldn't thrive in my tank? I don't really want to start messing around with chemicals or bogwood and the such to change my ph if possible.

Oh and I knew the correct gallons I keep putting the uk and us down the wrong way round.

 

[diademhill]

If you get Severums that have been tank bred they'll tolerate your water. Geophagus brasiliensis can tolerate a wide range of PH but don't buy imported fish.
Silver dollars too prefer lower pH.