Water Parameters for BGK

[Specialk314]

Hey guys, i'm trying to buy my BGK but wanted to double check my water parameters with you all first.

Temp- 78F
pH- 7.4 (i've seen varying pH ranges for these guys)
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 0

Also, dod i need any kind of cover for my heater? is there any risk of the fish burning themselves on it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Specialk314]

anyone? please? a simple 'you'll be fine' or 'it won't survive' would be amazing

ps- it's currently a 55gal but will eventually get a larger one

 

[moonchild1970]

Hope this helps! See here:

http://www.tropicalfishprofiles.com/other/black-ghost-knife-fish-apteronotus-albifrons/

 

[shua]

any fish can burn its self in a heater and will if it hangs out there all the time

 

[benzjamin13]

As long as you have plenty of hiding spots for the BGK, I wouldn't worry too much about the heater. They do like to hide, so if you don't have any cover for it, it will hide behind the filter intake or the heater. So again...just give it plenty of options to hide behind, under, and around and you should be safe.

 

[AdamKennedy]

A cover for the heater is not needed. KNife fish like LOTS of pvc or other hiding places. They are sometimes hard to keep by novice fish keepers because they require very good water quality and lots of water changes. Water chemistry should be kept as stable as possible therefore the larger the tank the easier it is to keep the knife healthy

 

[Bderick67]

Nitrates at zero? Is your tank cycled?

 

[Specialk314]

thanks for all the replies!
Bderick- i was wondering the same thing, I have been using Seachem Stability on the tank for the past seven days and the ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites are all 0 according to my test kit

 

[Bderick67]

thanks for all the replies!
Bderick- i was wondering the same thing, I have been using Seachem Stability on the tank for the past seven days and the ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites are all 0 according to my test kit

Have you added an ammonia source, for the bacteria to feed on?

 

[thezombiesarecoming]

this was the first type of "unusual" fish i bought and i was definitely a newbie at the aquarium management when i did so. despite that, he survived and did very well for a few years. unfortunately i ended up losing him when i went away for a couple weeks and had someone "taking care of" the tank. lost a lot of fish... had another one that also did very well up until i botched a medication treatment for ich. boo... those two i had seemed pretty hardy and survived quite a few ordeals.

but yeah, hiding places are definitely a must. i never used a heater cover. neither of mine actually hung around by it at all. the ones i had also LOVED bloodworms.

i have to admit i'm a little envious. i really want to get another one, but my lfs rarely sells them and even when i've ordered one, it seems like they never actually send out the order. have fun! such a cool fish!!