Established tank, low ph No kh

[Deadeye]

So everything but my buddies huh? Well $#!+, anyway to make a happy middle for the parrots until they pass from old age hopefully? So with what I have rams and tetra in black water should work out? Dont use a kh buffer and just do reg wcs?

Regular water changes are all I’d do for the rams and tetras.
You can try adding a crushed coral substrate to the 72 which acts to raise ph. Only problem is that plants don’t grow as well with it.
On the parrot tank, regular wc’s and keeping nitrates as low as possible will help to reduce the effects the low pH has on the fish.

Thanks alot guys. Hate to hear my guys r the odd man out on water here.... Anything with similar personality and shape without causing damage in community tank? Obviously I wont be replacing em now but for future purchase I won't be as irresponsible. Again thanks

My severum has just as much personality as my parrot. Comes up and begs and has a quirky behavior.

 

[Wideglide04]

Regular water changes are all I’d do for the rams and tetras.
You can try adding a crushed coral substrate to the 72 which acts to raise ph. Only problem is that plants don’t grow as well with it.
On the parrot tank, regular wc’s and keeping nitrates as low as possible will help to reduce the effects the low pH has on the fish.

My severum has just as much personality as my parrot. Comes up and begs and has a quirky behavior.

Ok so if I were you and plants r important but my fish mean way more. Would u use crushed coral or no? If so how would u start out using it and where would u stop as far as ph or kh? Sry for beimg blunt but I'm not confident in gambling with their lives with my experience. If you cant answer np either

 

[tlindsey]

Ok so if I were you and plants r important but my fish mean way more. Would u use crushed coral or no? If so how would u start out using it and where would u stop as far as ph or kh? Sry for beimg blunt but I'm not confident in gambling with their lives with my experience. If you cant answer np either

I personally would have the Ram pair and Tetra in the 40 breeder and wouldn't worry about adding crushed coral.

 

[Wideglide04]

I personally would have the Ram pair and Tetra in the 40 breeder and wouldn't worry about adding crushed coral.

Yes, the Rams and tetras seem like a go. Its what we wanted to try in BW and y'all have made me see it could work. What I'm worried about is my parrots, Happy & Snow White, both male but daughter named em so... To keep them alive and healthy should I use coral or something else? Ik rehoming should be an option but after 3 yrs I'm not sure it is.

 

[Wideglide04]

Awesome! Apistogramma would do well with that ph range but wouldn't mix them with the Rams especially a pair.

Man we love the apistos but, after reading up on em I'm so not into my fish killing my other fish lol. Ik with cichlids its always a risk but I prefer to minimize it if possible. I hate waste

 

[Deadeye]

Ok so if I were you and plants r important but my fish mean way more. Would u use crushed coral or no? If so how would u start out using it and where would u stop as far as ph or kh? Sry for beimg blunt but I'm not confident in gambling with their lives with my experience. If you cant answer np either

Really up to you to use crushed coral or not. I used it because my tank was originally setup as a mbuna tank, and they like really high pH. Parrots are pretty adaptable as is and only existing in captive settings makes them accepting of a wide range of pH.
I’d go with the advice of tlindsey over mine regarding the coral tbh - he’s been doing this longer than I’ve been alive…

 

[Wideglide04]

Really up to you to use crushed coral or not. I used it because my tank was originally setup as a mbuna tank, and they like really high pH. Parrots are pretty adaptable as is and only existing in captive settings makes them accepting of a wide range of pH.
I’d go with the advice of tlindsey over mine regarding the coral tbh - he’s been doing this longer than I’ve been alive…

Ok thats fair. I'm sry but not familiar with names here yet. So its possible I could do more harm trying to muck with what I have instead of embracing it and enjoying fish that fit that type of water. He'll maybe the parrots do great as they have been imo. Thanks for the info, I'll probably be back on the 49b setup and where to find rams

 

[Wideglide04]

Ok thats fair. I'm sry but not familiar with names here yet. So its possible I could do more harm trying to muck with what I have instead of embracing it and enjoying fish that fit that type of water. He'll maybe the parrots do great as they have been imo. Thanks for the info, I'll probably be back on the 49b setup and where to find rams

40b* hate typing

 

[Deadeye]

Ok thats fair. I'm sry but not familiar with names here yet. So its possible I could do more harm trying to muck with what I have instead of embracing it and enjoying fish that fit that type of water. He'll maybe the parrots do great as they have been imo. Thanks for the info, I'll probably be back on the 49b setup and where to find rams

If the parrots have been doing great this long, I’d bet they will continue to do so. Last thing you want is to screw it up trying to fix it (which is a risk with dosing chemicals).
Rams are pretty easy to source, most petsmarts, petcos, lfs, or online vendors will carry them.

 

[tlindsey]

where to find Rams

They may be seasonal but checkout the Wetspot.