EBJD water parameters, behaviour expert opinion needed!

[sunshinehippy]

So I went out yesterday and bought the first cichlid for my 100G tank. He is an electric blue JD, about 1.5-2" long, colouring up nicely. The shop were keeping him in hard water but my tank is relatively soft, with a pH of around 6-6.5. There is a little hardness in my water - about 5dGh. They said that they are adaptable so as long as I add him slowly he should be OK. Upon returning home I have read that they like neutral to hard water at least 8dGh - does anyone know if this will be a problem for him? Should I add a little hard tap water to the tank? (I currently use RO). He is very quiet and shy, hiding a lot and not interested in food; is this normal? He has only been in there since last night so maybe I need to give it time. I currently have 6 Congo tetras and 2 Siamese algae eaters in the tank. I intend on adding 3 geophagus tapajos and 1 rotkeil severum over time.

Worried, as this little fish cost me £30!!

 

[Toby_H]

Why do you use RO instead of tap water?

I have raised and bred Blue Dempseys in softi'sh water with low'ish PH (6.5~6.0) without any problems what so ever...

Unstable water conditions are far more of a risk than being a few degrees off of what their natural conditions are... Keep in mind that your Blue Dempseys heritage came out of their natural waters in the late 80s and haven't been back in it since.

 

[sunshinehippy]

My tap water is very very hard and is high in nitrates. Since using RO my other fish in the other tank are a lot happier (and less deaths).

 

[peathenster]

Why do you use RO instead of tap water?

I have raised and bred Blue Dempseys in softi'sh water with low'ish PH (6.5~6.0) without any problems what so ever...

Unstable water conditions are far more of a risk than being a few degrees off of what their natural conditions are... Keep in mind that your Blue Dempseys heritage came out of their natural waters in the late 80s and haven't been back in it since.

I agree. I started with pH7.5 water (they were born/raised in) but have gradually changed it to pH6.0-6.5, and they are doing very well.

 

[Toby_H]

My tap water is very very hard and is high in nitrates. Since using RO my other fish in the other tank are a lot happier (and less deaths).

That's a very good reason to rely on RO...

Have you tried using just a touch of baking soda to raise your KH a bit? This will help hold the PH at neutral (7.0)...

This won't do anything for your GH/Dissolved Solids... But as myself and Peathenster mentioned, this doesn't seem to be critical to keeping them healthy.

 

[sunshinehippy]

Just measured my pH with a proper testing kit (and not strips) and it is actually 7.2! My water is 5dGH - does that make sense?

He's coming out a bit more now but still not that interested in food. In fact he seems scared of my Congo tetras and is not even attempting to eat with them!! Is this the signs of a non aggressive fish or is it cos he's just new?

 

[Danger_Chicken]

I usually give them some black worms a day or two after bringing them home. It tends to get those shy EBJD's to eat. I've had good luck with them once I get them to eat.

 

[sunshinehippy]

I put some frozen brine shrimp in there yesterday and that made him eat. He actually shoved one of the tetras out of the way. He did seem to chew it though and spit it out, chew it again and spit it out. Strange.