I’m trying to get ahold of the ideal water parameters for Severums. I’ve searched a bunch and can’t seem to find a clear answer anywhere. I got a wild caught Heros liberifer a while back and it seems they might have gotten hith. I’ve seen mentioned that nitrates above 10ppm can contribute to this issue as well as pH. I’m just hoping to get a clear answer on what the ideal parameters are so I can keep this guy happy.
Severum Care Help
- Thread starter Attic_Octopus
- Start date
This species does best at a pH between 4 and 6, and needs enough water changes to keep nitrates as close to undetectabkle as possible.
If that means a 30% water change every other day day, then that's what is needed.
I accomplish similar nitrate levels by those type water changes, and using a heavily planted sump as filration to eat nitrates between between water changes, because, like Heros, my cichlids are herbivorous, and eat plants placed in the main tank.
Below my my normal nitrate test results.
Below thd nitrate level of the waters my cichlids come from.
If that means a 30% water change every other day day, then that's what is needed.
I accomplish similar nitrate levels by those type water changes, and using a heavily planted sump as filration to eat nitrates between between water changes, because, like Heros, my cichlids are herbivorous, and eat plants placed in the main tank.
Below my my normal nitrate test results.
Below thd nitrate level of the waters my cichlids come from.
Thank you! I did have a hard time getting this guy to eat for the first few months and had a nitrate spike as soon as they started eating. It is a heavily planted tank but I also I just set up a new canister filter for only bio filtration and I’m doing water changes every other day until it’s below 10ppm for sure.
Is there an optimal GH and KH for these guys as well? I wanna make sure I get these parameters ideal for them.
The water hardness in the Rio Orinoco, where they are found can be as low as 2" GH, and usually stained brown with tannins.
They have a wide distribution within the Orinoco basin, which includes other rivers and tributaries with varying parameters-- see below. You don't mention your pH numbers, but some have had HITH issues in pH above 7.5-- possibly it depends on their actual catch location. What temperatures are you keeping them?
pH is currently at about 7. I have an acid regulator to drop it down I’ve been adding as well to try and get it closer to 5 and only using RO water. The water temp is kept at 77 F. Thank you for that link! I’ve had such a hard time finding good info on these fish and love any info I can get on them.
I've kept common green severums in the past and currently have a green severum and red spotted severum in my tap water of 7.2 pH with a TDS of 63ppm.
I haven't kept heros liberifer aka mouth brooding severums but read they're more black water sensitive and require lower pH of 6 and below. Which is more true if wild caught.
If they aren't wild caught or f1, I'd keep them in ph no higher than 7.4 with soft acidic water.
I haven't kept heros liberifer aka mouth brooding severums but read they're more black water sensitive and require lower pH of 6 and below. Which is more true if wild caught.
If they aren't wild caught or f1, I'd keep them in ph no higher than 7.4 with soft acidic water.
I found similar info as well just nothing with a clear answer until now. I’ve had rotkeils, greens, reds, and golds in a ph of 7-8 but never had this issue before. The paper that was posted says that liberifer can be found in backwaters, Clearwaters, and whitewaters but seems it’s a pH of 4-6 regardless. If tank raised I think they would’ve been fine but since they are wild caught I think it’s played a bigger role for sure.
I attended an auction over 10 years ago in Chicago, where a number of wild caught liberfer had become available.
I was very interested them at the time, but in all the bags I viewed, all were scarred up with HITH.
Most Chicago tap water originates in Lake Michigan, and is in the pH range in the 7.5 to 7.8, and moderately hard, very similar to the pH of the my Milwaukee tap water that also originates in Lake Michigan (Total Hardness @ 250 mg/L.
Before treatment, like Michigan raw water averages a pH of 8.4.
Needless to say, I passed on those soft water, low pH species, and picked up something that would survive better in my own tap water.
I prefer not to beat my head against the wall (or subject the fish I keep to un-natural conditions)
I was very interested them at the time, but in all the bags I viewed, all were scarred up with HITH.
Most Chicago tap water originates in Lake Michigan, and is in the pH range in the 7.5 to 7.8, and moderately hard, very similar to the pH of the my Milwaukee tap water that also originates in Lake Michigan (Total Hardness @ 250 mg/L.
Before treatment, like Michigan raw water averages a pH of 8.4.
Needless to say, I passed on those soft water, low pH species, and picked up something that would survive better in my own tap water.
I prefer not to beat my head against the wall (or subject the fish I keep to un-natural conditions)