My Cardinal Aqumulation Idea!

[Talz]

Ive been wanting a smaller schooling fish for awile now in my 77gal tank and I think ive decided on cardinal tetras, but I read alot of horror stories about them and it sounds like success is rare. I think I have an idea that might make their chances of survival higher though...

Cardinals are wild caught right? So in order for them to feel at home they would need a really low p.H. I was in a pet shop awile ago and I saw this wierd powder stuff that apearantly makes to p.H go to 6.5. Now I was wondering if I put that stuff in at first and then did a 25% water change in say 2 weeks (which I do anyway) and just kept doing that without putting more of that stuff in till it eventually over a slow period of time got back up to the normall p.H if it would make them feel better? Would it hurt my other fish? I bably want a school of them but I also dont want to have them die, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

P.S: Im not sure exactly what my natural p.H is but I think its roughly neutral but slightly on the alkaline side

 

[Saedcantas]

The chemical buffers like "Proper pH 6.5" have a whole range of nasty chemical effects in how they work, it would be much better to use a good amount of bogwood to bring your pH down and although you might end up with very dark water to begin with, over time you will do partial changes that will lighten it up, but you'll have the pH you need by natural devices

 

[OohFeeshy]

Considering they're kept in bog standard tap water at the lfs, lowering pH will just be increasing the gep between what they're kept in and what you put them in. Just drip acclimate, and keep the water clean and stable.

 

[dave_m13]

I have had my cardinals since August last year, initially 6 and then 5 more add in feb this year and I have not lost one.
When changing water I use 5 ltr RO water and 5 ltr tap water, my PH is around 7. As long as water is clean and nitrates are kept low you should be good.

Thanks
Dave

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I have had cards in my 75 gal for several years. Usually there are anywhere from 30-45. My tap/tank is pH 7.4 and they do just fine in that.

The best advice I can offer for upping new card (and other tetra) survival rates is to start with healthy fish, not ones just debagged at the store but ones that have been Quarentined by the seller to insure they are healthy. Then when you get them, feed them newly hatched BBS for the first 1-2 weeks you have them. yhis greatly increases the survival rate.

 

[ringham]

I have bog wood in 1 of my tanks, I was actually going for a bit of a tan in the water but nothing happened.

 

[pieman]

I have bog wood in 1 of my tanks, I was actually going for a bit of a tan in the water but nothing happened.

Could be one of many things,

Not enough bogwood to make a noticeable difference
Left it to soak/boil too long

 

[Talz]

The thing with me is that id acually rather avoid the tan look. Also where would I get the bbs? one last thing is what should you look for in a healthy cardinal, or better yet what are the no no's?

 

[Talz]

No one know? Ive only got like 2 days before I have to get them or I wont get another chance for a very long time, im really out of they way, its a real drag

 

[lisa_perry75]

The tubs of pH 6.5 aren't suitable for use with plants normally, so check that its safe!!
I used RO mix and something called D/D Products, magic mix (discus regular). found at www.dorsetdiscus.com It took my water to pH 6.5.

 

[Talz]

I dont have any live plants in my tank due to my silver dollars eating habbits