What to keep ph at and how important is it ??
What is a great pellet source ?
What is a good temp ? I currently keep at 83deg .
What is a great pellet source ?
What is a good temp ? I currently keep at 83deg .
PH
- Thread starter master.k.
- Start date
vdawgs22;2781606; said:
Good point.
I would say Ph is not totally important but I would think with africans BEST would be at least 7.5.
I think 83 is a bit warm...I prefer somewhere around 78. That is just my opinion.
Bre;2781894; said:
Agreed on the temp. I keep my tanks about where Bre keeps hers, except I keep my baby tanks a little warmer, about 80.
master.k.;2781473; said:
PH is the hardness of your water. For fish breeding ph levels are important but stability of the ph is most important. Trying to control ph with chemicals may fluxuate the ph and be harmful to the fish.There are tons of articles on this site about safe ways to raise the ph organically. Lowering ph is far more difficult.
Pellets I use Hikari
I use 76-78 but use an external digital thermometer not the heater dial to get accurate temp. readings...............some of my heater dials are set at 72 or lower but the water temp is 76-78. 83 doesn't give you alot of room for external heat sources raisin the temp on you - examples the sun, your houses heat, the oven, external heat from the summer, or humidity.
My pH is around 7.6-7.8, temp at 77-78deg. I feed NLS pellets, occassionally give them brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, frozen blood worms.
If you are concern with pH then some crush coral will help buffer the water.
If you are concern with pH then some crush coral will help buffer the water.
Keep your PH high around 7.8-8, thats how we have it in the shop and recommend it to all customers especially if your gonna keep some wild fish. I used to use The Hikari cichlid excel pellets, and we use the New Era african cichlid pellets in the shop as they are moist so shouldnt cause bloat.
Also keep your tempreture low around 24c is enough, the higher the tempreture the more agressive they become and the more losses you will experience.
Also keep your tempreture low around 24c is enough, the higher the tempreture the more agressive they become and the more losses you will experience.
Hardness refers to KH (carbonate hardness) and GH (general hardness), not the pH. pH simply indicates alkalinity and acidity. It is the KH that influences the pH stability. You'll need to increase the KH using sodium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate to be able stabilize the pH.Otherone;2783014; said:
Use baking soda to increase the KH. Other alternatives are crushed corals, crushed oyster shells, limestones, marble chips and plaster of Paris blocks.
Exactly right my friend. I like to use the Malawi and victorian cichlid PH buffer made by Seachem. I use it on all my tanks.Lupin;2794988; said:
I also highly reccomend the cichlid lake salts by Seachem again. Especially if your keeping wild caught fish as it adds some of the trace elements back to the water. I even use it with my Goldfish.
pH varies lake to lake.
Victoria is around 8-8.8, Malawi around 8.5, and Tanganikya around 8.5-9. You could probably keep most rift lake cichlid in a pH of 7.5-9.0, but these are the averages of each lake.
Temperature should stay around 75-78, 83 is to high and the water is likely rather oxygen depleted.
Cheers,
Art
Victoria is around 8-8.8, Malawi around 8.5, and Tanganikya around 8.5-9. You could probably keep most rift lake cichlid in a pH of 7.5-9.0, but these are the averages of each lake.
Temperature should stay around 75-78, 83 is to high and the water is likely rather oxygen depleted.
Cheers,
Art