Argentea acting strange (with vid)

[jaws7777]

I've done a bit of research on the Usumacinta river, and Lake Lachua, areas where argentea are found
http://search.tb.ask.com/search/red...S/zw77CNBIvmdyn/sAmtGiqkwgqbpRKrqfZw==&ord=2&
the article above was one of the best resources for water parameters, biological diversity, and general habitat.
pH values range from 8.0 to 8.5
That said, since your argentea has adapted to your water, I believe it is more important to use the water you have, and keep water quality high, with water changes, than try to mess with pH.
Adding crushed coral would be a very gentle way to add mineral content, but using chemical additives (at least to me) would be counterproductive.
My pH usually hovers in the 7.5 to 7.8 range, and argentea (and others from that region) have spawned in my tanks, these fish are extremely flexible as far as requirements go, because water parameters are constantly changing especially in riverine areas.
In all videos, yours looks healthy and active to me

Thanks duanes i wouldnt add any chems. Gonna do two tables spoons of coral and wait, test...repeat if need be

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[duanes]

I ran a fluidized bed reactor for a while, to help buffer alkalinity and pH.
It is 4 ft tall and 8" in diameter, and would comfortably fluidize about 5lbs of aragonite
(fine crushed coral) sand. I found I needed to add about 1/2 lb of new aragonite every 6 months or so. Every time I'd add new aragonite the water would get a bit of a milky look for a short time.


you can sort of see the milky color of the water in the 10gal fry tank between the reactor and the barrel sump.
I had the reactor feed into the sump, as it fed 3 or 4 tanks at the time.

 

[jaws7777]

Duanes your set ups are beyond impressive.

I just added about two tablespoons worths so we'll see how it goes

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[jaws7777]

Duanes ifni add enough coral to match my tap ph then i should be ok in regards to wc/fluctuations ?

P.s. that article was very interesting thank you

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[duanes]

The crushed coral will buffer any acids that tend to drop pH, albeit slowly.
There is a certain equilibrium where it levels off, that has to do with your waters normal mineral content.
In many places where desalinated seawater is used for drinking, before being sent into the distribution system, the desalinated water is run over coral skeletons, or calcareous rock to add minerals that make it more palatable.
I agree about the article, I believe I saw heterospila as another one of your current cichlids endemic to that area, among others.

 

[jaws7777]

The crushed coral will buffer any acids that tend to drop pH, albeit slowly.
There is a certain equilibrium where it levels off, that has to do with your waters normal mineral content.
In many places where desalinated seawater is used for drinking, before being sent into the distribution system, the desalinated water is run over coral skeletons, or calcareous rock to add minerals that make it more palatable.
I agree about the article, I believe I saw heterospila as another one of your current cichlids endemic to that area, among others.

That article actually listed most of my cichlids (pearsei, hets, and argentea)

So i added some crushed coral (small amount only 2ish tableapoons) also tested tap water right out of the faucet and after sitting in a cup over night.
Not to good at telling the diff.

I havent tested kh or gh yet waiting for them to come in the mail.

Tank water (roughly 24 hrs after adding small amount of coral) 6.6 ?


Tap water 6.8 to 7.0 ?


Tap water after sitting in a cup overnight 7.0 to 7.2 ?


So if i match it to the tap inshould be able to avoid fluctuations during wc....

Should i even bother going through this ?


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[ragin_cajun]

So tap water overnight is 7.0, but your tank water is much lower pH? That's not good. So what in your tank is lowering pH like that?


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[jaws7777]

I had 3 pieces of dw now down to 1, 2 clay pots, 1 anubis nana, some fake plants

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[duanes]

Seems to me, your tap water may have a low alkalinity, but you could find out for sure by going to your local water companies "water quality report" where parameters are normally listed.
2 spoons of crushed coral is just a drop in the bucket.
You may want to add a few lbs if tap water alkalinity is low.
Mine is @ 100ppm (mg/L), and my water comes from Lake Michigan which has an even higher alkalinity before treatment.
In some Central American waters, alkalinity might be in the 300ppm range or higher. You could probably exchange your entire substrate with crushed coral, and not be detrimental to your stock.

 

[jaws7777]

I would just attempt to match it to my tap which 7.0 to 7.2

The only thing i could think of thats affecting it is the dw

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