New to Rope Fish - help on set up
- Thread starter bottomdweller72
- Start date
i will keep that site bookmarked. my ph is still too high. normally when i do a reading, it is 8.1, but a few times i did it, it was 7.6, but, i'm not always consistent with when i take the reading on that one. before/after wc, before/after feeding etc... but when i go into that area, i will be sure to read up and ask on their hardiness to the more alkaline water. i'll probably need to buy it online because i honestly hardly ever see cichlids for sale around here in my area. well, not ones that get of large size or are just completely unappealing to me. so i will have to ask around on best places to purchase a juvenile from. i'll need a 75 instead then instead of a 55 either way. so, redirect on that plan... no biggie. i see a lot of 75's in or marketplace for sale at nice prices. the 55 is hardly seen or at an insane price.
That's what I've been saying all along 75! So much a better foot print in a 4' tank. Look at some of the geos, they get real pretty. Ive got a topajo and an albino heckelii both are getting all their colors and streamers. My ph is 7.8 most of the time I run my tank at 76 degrees. As
magpie
said tank raised won't matter as much on ph as long as you acclimate them to it properly.
magpie
said tank raised won't matter as much on ph as long as you acclimate them to it properly.
That's what I've been saying all along 75! So much a better foot print in a 4' tank. Look at some of the geos, they get real pretty. Ive got a topajo and an albino heckelii both are getting all their colors and streamers. My ph is 7.8 most of the time I run my tank at 76 degrees. As
hahaha ok ok ok... for now then, i'll just try to grab another 10 gal to get the corys out of the tank with the rope for their own protection. i'll hold off on buying a bigger tank until after i move in april then because there is no way i am setting up a 75 gal in november/december just to break it down in april, eeek that would be a pain. then i'll get that one partially set up with the 150 fish. then in the 150, will be the bleekeri with the bigger uj's, no ropes. the 75 will be ropes, del and sen along with severums. i'll still get a 55 for my pggies and the semi's i want again (loaches and barbs). i'm going to call a 3 tank max limit lol (for now) haha whew i think i finally have the set up planned and the fish. thank you ALL for so much help and kindness. it has been a real pleasure conversing with you all
now to just be a nosy person on the forums until i get everything set up and going eeeeee i can't wait!oh,
twentyleagues
just how do you acclimate fish to a ph?
I do a drip acclimation then temp acclimate the bag as long as they have a decent water quality in the bag. I test the bag water. If it's close I don't bother 7.4 or higher is close enough to mine never had an issue. If it's 7.2 or lower I drip or pour water from my tank into a bucket that I've put the fish in or to the bag they have come in. The greater the difference the slower I go. After the water they are in is the same I'll float the bag to get them to temp and release after about 20 min depending on how much water is in the bag. To drip water I have a air hose with a knot in it to restrict flow start a syphon and let it drip in to the acclimation container. 1 drip a second is a fairly good rate to start then as the pH gets close you can go to slow dribble to a stream by loosening the knot.
twentyleagues
seriously, how in the world did i keep fish for 30 yrs and not even know that? thank you for explaining that so clearly. i have never tested the water from the store bags, but i never put their water in my tanks, i just net the fish out and put them in my tank after acclimating them to the temp of the tank from the store bag. i always said how long you do something doesn't always mean knowledge and expertise... boy did i just prove myself right on that one haha sheesh.I figured I'd chime in I feed tilapia and pellets and keep mollies and guppies in the same tank. Whenever I add a new poly they chase the mollies and guppies for a few days until they realize they will get a steady stream of tilapia and pellets and it;s a hell of a lot easier than catching another fish after they realize that they leave everyone else alone. I do add enough tilapia and pellets sometimes there is some left in the morning but I keep an eye on the water quality and do regular water changes to keep it in check. The only fish 2 fish that try to eat the mollies and guppies are Jackass my afer knifefish and Cynthia my Butis Butis
T
thefredpit
hahahahaaaa at your knife fish name 
I put some tilapia bits in tonight right by her hiding house and she slowly hung down and stuck her head out, looked around and happily munched. It was the first time I actually seen her eat. I think the 3 little pigs eat most of the food and she wasn't getting enough. I'm so used to feeding in the morning that it didn't even click she is nocturnal. She comes out during the day, mostly to get air and take a stroll. Then she goes back up inside her "stump". The new Cyclops piggy is behaving normal now too. The others are sticking close by still. I feel horrible this happened, but I realize it could have been so much worse. Trial and error isn't always a pleasant thing.
I put some tilapia bits in tonight right by her hiding house and she slowly hung down and stuck her head out, looked around and happily munched. It was the first time I actually seen her eat. I think the 3 little pigs eat most of the food and she wasn't getting enough. I'm so used to feeding in the morning that it didn't even click she is nocturnal. She comes out during the day, mostly to get air and take a stroll. Then she goes back up inside her "stump". The new Cyclops piggy is behaving normal now too. The others are sticking close by still. I feel horrible this happened, but I realize it could have been so much worse. Trial and error isn't always a pleasant thing.
I also have "Damn It" the sengalus and "What The" the del.
I usually feed 9-10pm I pull up a chair and watch for 10-15 min then turn on the night time lights
I usually feed 9-10pm I pull up a chair and watch for 10-15 min then turn on the night time lights
Yeah I know it wasn't super clear but I never add store water to my own water no matter how dilute it is. The drip acclimation thing is from having salt water for so long its just something you do. Mostly its for inverts but its good for fish too. Most animals can tolerate a wide range of conditions as long as they get there slowly, too fast and its a shock to the system.
