Small Schooling Fish For Hard, Alkaline Water

[mbbowman]

While a water softener is hopefully in my near future, for now I am left with very hard, alkaline water. While my city insists that the water coming out of my tap is neutral, my readings are always just around 8.0. Who's right? I have no idea! But, assuming that most fish do ok with a neutra pH, I am left with assuming my pH is indeed alkaline. We also have nitrate in our water (we're surrounded by farmland, so it's not a huge surprise). Short of doing RO water, (which is not an option yet), I find myself looking for fish that would thrive in my water conditions, rather than trying to mess with the conditions myself.

So, knowing this, are there any small schooling fish for my tropical aquarium that would thrive in these water conditions?

Also, once I do get a water softener, how should I aclimate my fish? Should I just continune doing regular water changes, or is there more to it?

Mel

 

[mlawson]

There aren't many shoaling fish which live in hard, alkaline water.
The only ones I could think of would be some White Cloud Mountain
Minnows, Tanichthyus Albonubes or some danios of some
sort. They will thrive in semi-alkaline water. Although they arent very
tolerant of nitrates and require clean well oxygenated water.

I would buy a new test kit as yours may be faulty if its old.

 

[aquila]

Danios are very hardy and adaptable, they're often recommended for cycling purposes for this reason. The regular zebra kind seem to be more hardy then any of the fancier long-finned types.

 

[mbbowman]

I have three test kits, two of them new, and all give the same results. The only thing I can say is I've had some of my fish for close to a year and they haven't died.

Come to think of it, my neighbor has had good luck with zebra danios. Perhaps I'll try them. Thanks!

 

[Torrean]

are you testing your tank or your tap?

You should let your tap water settle for a while (overnight works) before testing it. Something about the temperature and oxygenation of the water altering the PH...maybe you'll get lucky and one of the chemists will enlighten us.

 

[dwarfgourami]

further suggestions:

dwarf neon rainbows
forktail rainbows (pseudomugil furacata)

 

[pica_nuttalli]

in addition to testing your pH, you'll want to test you GH and kH (the two ways of measuring hardness). that will help a lot in clarifying exactly why you have an alkaline pH and what sorts of fish will do well in your water.

 

[mbbowman]

further suggestions:

dwarf neon rainbows
forktail rainbows (pseudomugil furacata)

Where would one find pseudomugil furcata? They're stunning! I've definitely never seen anything like that at Petsmart, and unfortunately I don't have many other choices around here (sigh). I live in Wisconsin near the MN border.

I was also pointed towards rasboras, but I havent seen much of them in local stores either