Ember Tetra Questions.

[Zbbal]

So about a week ago I got six little Ember Tetras. Most of them are very active and they enjoy exploring my 10 gallon. There's one that seems to just hide all day, but I think that's because he's the smallest out of all of them. Otherwise, they all seem healthy and happy though a bit fearful. I do have a few questions though.

First, all of their gills are very red. This wouldn't concern me if they were colored up, but considering they are all still on the pale side...I'm concerned. My tank parameters are fine. No ammonia, no nitrite. The tanks planted so no high nitrate problems. I do water changes more than once a week, sometimes as often as every other day. Their tank mates are pen point sized baby pond snails. I'm just stumped as to why their gills are so red.

My second question has to do with pH. The pH in my area is very high, varying between 7.4 to 8.2. I know Ember's do best in lower pH. Is there a way to naturally lower the pH? Rocks, etc? I have a small piece of driftwood in the tank already. I'll do anything to make these guys happy.

Third question is about tank mates. After much consideration, I've come to the conclusion that I need some other fish to eat all of the crushed flakes the Ember's miss. Automatically I think of Corydoras...but they can be very active, they get too big, and I think they would terrify my Ember's. Are the different types of dwarf Corydoras just as rowdy? Their size is just right.

 

[Zbbal]

No one?

 

[Chrisinator]

First, all of their gills are very red. This wouldn't concern me if they were colored up, but considering they are all still on the pale side...I'm concerned. My tank parameters are fine. No ammonia, no nitrite. The tanks planted so no high nitrate problems. I do water changes more than once a week, sometimes as often as every other day. Their tank mates are pen point sized baby pond snails. I'm just stumped as to why their gills are so red.

Gills are naturally red but since you say they are washed out in color, they might look redder than usual.

My second question has to do with pH. The pH in my area is very high, varying between 7.4 to 8.2. I know Ember's do best in lower pH. Is there a way to naturally lower the pH? Rocks, etc? I have a small piece of driftwood in the tank already. I'll do anything to make these guys happy.

I think peat moss lowers pH. Though it woudl be better for a lower pH, it would be better for them to have a stable pH than a constant changing one. Driftwood does help. I have a lot but it never seemed to lower the pH in my tank.

Third question is about tank mates. After much consideration, I've come to the conclusion that I need some other fish to eat all of the crushed flakes the Ember's miss. Automatically I think of Corydoras...but they can be very active, they get too big, and I think they would terrify my Ember's. Are the different types of dwarf Corydoras just as rowdy? Their size is just right.

Habrorus Corydoras are pretty awesome. They are very easy going, active and shouldn't bother your Ember Tetras.

 

[Zbbal]

Though the pH in my area varies, I somehow manage to keep the tank pH generally the same. So maybe I should try peat moss.

As for the Corydoras, I'll have to ask my LFS to get some. They only get Pygmy, and even that is occasionally. Even though my LFS is huge and has a wide selection, they often miss out on some great species. An example of this would be my very own Ember Tetras. One of the employees told me that in the two years he had been working there, that this was the first time they had ever had Ember Tetras. I felt so lucky that I had gotten the very last six.

 

[platytudes]

Lucky you that you were able to find ember tetras! I've only ever read about them. They can be shy, it's true - I would probably have gotten a few more than 6, but 6 should be ok. Are you planning on getting any other fish? Sometimes for shy fish it helps to have "dither fish" - like maybe some glowlight tetras. Dwarf cories could work, but I think cherry shrimp would be better, personally. I bet they would even breed for you - and your hard water is very good for snails. Some assasin snails would eat your pond snails if you would rather not have them in your tank, and Malaysian trumpet snails, of course, are a must have in my book...

As far as acidifying the water, when you do your water changes you could mix your tap with distilled water. If you do water changes by the gallon, 1 gallon is 16 cups so maybe 2 cups of distilled water, for the rest use your regular tap. Whatever you decide just make sure you follow the same formula each time!

Also, there is a member on the Buy/Sell selling alder cones - they make the water tannic which I'm sure your ember tetras would like. Indian almond leaves (popular with betta breeders) will do this too. Adding tannins and humic acids such as this does help somewhat, but it won't radically soften your water - the only way to do that is to cut hard your water with soft. It's easy to make soft water hard - add minerals. But with hard water, to make it soft you must take minerals away.

Hope that helps

 

[platytudes]

Hmm, I wonder if they were wild caught? That would explain why they are taking their time settling in. I wonder if they are less adaptable to hard water and that's why they are not as common - since most of the U.S. has hard water.

Oh, and adding rocks always results in hardening the water as far as I can tell - limestone, crushed coral, etc. are always used for buffering purposes. It's things like leaves and wood which acidify.

 

[platytudes]

I felt so lucky that I had gotten the very last six.

Oh, I see I would have jumped on getting 10, maybe even a dozen!

 

[gmh]

Peat is a hassle to deal with and additives can be expensive. Adding some RO is your best bet but it should not be necessary unless your tds are very high. I kept embers in ph 8 with no problems.
I agree cherry shrimp are a great choice and should breed for you. Any of the dwarf cories would also work well with your stocking and tank size.

 

[msjinkzd]

you don't need peat or to soften your water. I keep embers in my pH of 8.0 with no issues. How long have you had them now?


Dwarf cories are a nice mix for them. Pygmaeus are the smallest and are the most mellow.

 

[Zbbal]

Thanks everyone for your help.

I've had them for about a week. And yes, I would have preferred to have more, but these guys were all that they had left. Looks like I'm not the only aquarist interested in these little buddies. They've just barely started to color up. Four of them have a light orange coloring, and two of them are still very pale. I'm starting to think the paler ones are female because they are much bigger than the rest.

So they can adapt to alkaline pH? I know the water around here is rather hard as well, so is that a concern? I'm just intrested in providing them the best home possible.

I've thought about adding shrimp, but I've heard too many horror stories about them. I would think they'd be too delicate for me. As for other kinds of snails...let me get rid of the pond snails that are taking over my tanks first.

Now about other fish. I might just ask my LFS to get more Ember's. That won't solve the matter of all the extra flakes that float to the bottom, but it might make these guys more comfortable. I guess it all comes down to what my LFS has when I go there.

Tannic water. Never messed with that before. Any info is welcome.