Quick Stocking Question.....

[Gr44]

Hi all,

I'm satisfied my cycling is now 'complete' and I'm looking to purchase fish on Friday!!

My tank stats are;

600mm x 300mm x 300mm ~ 54L

Water stats (From tap);

pH = 8.2-8.4
KH = 232ppm
GH = 392ppm
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = 0ppm

I know this is very, very hard water but I've been told by a few members on here and also the LFS that what I plan to stock will be okay. I'd just like to ensure that everyone shares the same view as what I read doesn't always seem to agree!

Looking to purchase

12 x Glowlight Tetra (I'm told 2-3 losses are very common in the first few days with these? I only want 10 - but if they all survive, hurrah!)
6 x Strebi Corydoras

Do you think these fish will be okay in my water? I have a sand substrate (or will do come Friday!)

Many Thanks,

Sean

 

[Truck]

All should be fine, the cories don't produce much in terms of waste, neither do the glow lights, I would add the glow light tetras first and then the cories a couple of weeks-months later, as they will benefit from a mature tank, that is 100% problem free, with no possible ammonia/nitrite spikes.

 

[Gr44]

Thanks Truckasauras123.

In terms of the fish and the hard water and high pH though, it's unlikely to be a problem?

 

[Truck]

I never noticed the PH, what substrate do you have in the tank? and do you have any stones?

 

[Redrum]

The ph looks a little high but as long as it goes down over time it should be fine and it should go down unless you have shells in your tank or crushed coral as your substrate. i think your good to go but I would sugguest ot adding all your glowlights at once as this will put a load on your biological filter as your tank is new. Maybe half to start out with and half a weed or two later if your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are low. I would expect those levels to go up when you add fish for a little bit of time.

 

[Gr44]

The pH is 8.4-8.6 from the tap!!! settles down a little after co2 gases off and seems to be around 8.2-8.4 level.

I have a sand substrate, 2 pieces of rock in my tank and... 2 other rocks - I'll take a photo tonight and you can have a look

Only put the sand in last night, it was gravel before.

 

[Truck]

your PH is extremely high out of the tap! heaven knows what its doing to the pipes, but peat and bog wood are good solutions to a high PH, just make sure you don't do too many large water changes or it could give the fish PH shock.

You could also use 50% RO water and 50% tap, this would give you a PH of about 7.6

 

[Gr44]

I live near a chalk quarry so figure thats why!

I'll check again later to be sure... you've got me thinking I'm doing it wrong!

Kind of expensive to be buying RO water all the time though... will the fish not like that high pH then?

Looking to get them tomorrow so I need a plan of action fast!!

Thanks,

Sean

 

[Truck]

its not ideal for the fish you want, have you considered Neolamprologus multifasciatus?

Living near the chalk quarry could be a problem, but the chalk shouldn't be contaminating the water supply.

 

[Gr44]

Somone suggested Shell Dwellers before, I'm not sure exactly which one though.

I really like them but I was under the impression you can't have any other species with them... because this is my first tank I really want a community tank with 2-3-4 differant fish in there rather than just one species...

Thoughts?

Cheers,

Sean

 

[Gr44]

Well apprantly X-Ray Tetra are much better in high pH and hard water... maybe I'll get those instead, I don't think they look as good but it they suit the tank better....

Corydoras aren't a good idea though?

Can anyone suggest fish I could have in a community setup? I really like Shell Dwellers but I'd love to have a few differant fish to enjoy!

My tank is here - sorry for the bad photo!

Also... I seem to have had a hiccup with my cycle for some reason... see my other thread here

Thanks,

Sean

 

[ian]

nice tank, is it a 15g? it looks like the black version of mine.

i'd pop a few more plants in there, a few moss balls would look good in there.

edit, just read its 54l.

have you got a U3 in there? Why didn't you get a u2?

 

[Gr44]

Thanks ianho,

Those plants are just fake plastic ones... I might get some proper ones shortly though, once I get the fish settled in and such. What are moss balls? Heard of them a few times!

Yeah a U3... I got that because I'm a little bit silly (see this thread)

 

[ian]

lol about the U3 thread, are you still selling that filter? From what i've read you cant over filtrate ya tank, but obviously the fish can be washed into a whirlpool. Have you got the spraybar on?

Moss balls are balls of algea, that inhibit the growth of algae. I have 3 and they are ace. If you have a look in the photo thread you'll see em in my thread of my tank. I think real plants would look good in there.

 

[Gr44]

No, that U3 is now in my tank (on the right of the photo) and yes, I've got the spray bar on!

Ah, they look a bit strange I've seen them before! Maybe some real plants once I figure out how to keep the fish!!

Anyway... OT a bit now, back to stocking folks!!