Ok..what Fish For This Ph?

[kcalbat]

What fish do better in hard, alkalinic waters around pH 8.4?

 

[dizzied]

African chiclids come to mind. Livebearers and rainbowfish could probably go that high.

There's probably a lot more fish that will do fine at that PH as long as they're acclimated properly.

 

[Griz]

What size tank do you have to work with? I agree with dizzied's suggestions. It's refreshing to see someone matching their fish to their water.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Sounds very similar to mine. I keep livebearers (platies, guppies and a couple of less common ones), peppered corys and bristlenose plecs. All seem happy in the water and breed/spawn frequently. The only ones whose fry I have not been able to raise are the corys- theirs always gets eaten. I do keep a bit of bogwood in most of my tanks, which brings it down slightly. Try to get fish locally, so they are already used to what you have to offer.
Dizzied's suggestions are good: livebearers, rainbows and African cichlids are the three categories that spring to mind as actively preferring this type of water. Danios, hardy corys, hardy plecs probably don't mind.

 

[BigC]

Melanotaenia boesemani

 

[kcalbat]

to bring this topic back up...i have a 44 gallon size tank. It has fake plants and ornaments now. (i dont know how to care for plants)

It currently holds 5 harlequin rasboras. I know that some fish can get acclimated (spell check?) to my pH and water hardness but id rather have fish that would be happier in my water parameters. If i did acclimate my fish, would that cut down their lifespan or general quality of life?

I am awfully attracted to rainbow fish. Not so much cichlids though...i like a good community tank, but if i must i can do that.

Dont cichlids prefer rocks and lots of caves? What particular species of cichlid then?
What could i fit in a 44 gal?

Maybe i could do a rainbow community tank: are there any algea eaters and tank scavengers that would do better my water? Or at least some that wont have to acclimate so much.
Thanks for all your help.

 

[QuotheRaven]

I believe Melanotaenia boesemani is the Boeseman rainbow fish...but I may be wrong there

 

[dizzied]

As long as the fish are acclimated correctly, and your PH stays steady, they'll be fine. There are more sensitive fish that are exceptions to this, but most will be okay without any ill effects.

For algae eaters and scavengers, you could look into some inverts as most would thrive in higher PH.