Ok i just got the fish yesterday and I had a buddy of mine tell me that the pH levels for cichlids r different than from ordinary freshwater fish. I have a Jack Dempsey, a Texas Cichlid, and a Pike Cichlid. What should my pH levels be at because right now they are right around 7.2. Also with these fish should i add sand to my rocks or am i just fine with getting the cichlid salt? Thanks for all of your help.
pH levels for my 3 cichlids
- Thread starter Wycheck
- Start date
the pH is just fine for those fish----they aare new worlds, not Africans.
that dempsey might find that the going gets a little rough. maybe not.
that dempsey might find that the going gets a little rough. maybe not.
New world cichlids prefer a lower PH below 7, but its not so critical as water hardness(should be low). Cichlid salt is for african cichlids and is intended to raise ph and hardness and should not be used. what size tank? all these fish will get fairly large.
this is absolutely untrue. new world cichlids .. i.e, central american cichlids for example, are found in waters with a pH anywhere from 7 to as high as 8.5.
also not true. central american cichlids are found in water with a gH anywhere from 200=-450 ppm.
regardless, it's generally a bad idea to play chemist with your water. whatever it is out of the tap, that's what your fish will be just fine with, as long as it's stable and clean.
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Here are some interesting statistics on water stats on eight of the different rivers we collected in April in Honduras. The one thing you have to remember is that the pH and hardness of the water fluctuate a great deal in the wild. Sudden run offs from the mountainside into the river, heavy rains, flooding, etc. all can cause a sudden shift. Fish...and in paticular CA Cichlids do well in a wide range of pH range with only long term exposure to extremes causing any serious damage.
Location 1 Rio Copan – 85F, 8.5pH
Location 2 Rio Blanco (formerly listed rio Amorillo) – no data
Location 3 Rio Chuluteca (upper reaches) – 84F, 8.6pH, 590mS (conductivity), 295ppm (TDS)
Location 4 Trib Rio Danto – no data
Location 5 Rio Bonito - 84F, 6.6pH, 30mS, 14ppm
ocation 6 Rio Belaire – 83F, 8.4pH, 110mS, 54ppm
ephemeral trib to Belaire (rivulus, mollies, etc.) – 79F, 7.1pH, 1000mS, 410ppm
Location 7 Rio Jutiapa – 84F, 8.4pH
Location 8 Rio Monga – 83F, 7.4pH
Hope this helps. And just cause the info is right in front of me, here's the species caught in each location.
#1 was Rio Copan, we only got Microthalms there
#2 was Rio Blanco, Nice red tiger Motoguense, Pocieliops pluraspilus, a few Mexicana mollies
#3 was Choloteca (?sp) Anebleps, spot tail molly (with the bar tail), convicts, hogaboomrum, a roberstsoni type, cutteri, Motos and possibly loiselli and managuense
#4 was at the Hotel I believe is was Rio Danta? New Parachromis, robertsoni, Gambusia lumia, Dominator gobies, cutteri, mollies, Others I'll have to look up
#5 was the rocky river north of La Ceiba, Name?? 3 species of Gobies, white cutteri, mollies
#6 Rio Blanco Alfrao Huberi, X. mayae (swords) Rivulus irvini, cutteri, Spot tail molly, Mexicana molly, robertsoni, mexican tetras
#7 was Rio Jutiapa Cutteri, mollies
#8 Rio Monga Red point type nigrafasiatus.
Location 1 Rio Copan – 85F, 8.5pH
Location 2 Rio Blanco (formerly listed rio Amorillo) – no data
Location 3 Rio Chuluteca (upper reaches) – 84F, 8.6pH, 590mS (conductivity), 295ppm (TDS)
Location 4 Trib Rio Danto – no data
Location 5 Rio Bonito - 84F, 6.6pH, 30mS, 14ppm
ocation 6 Rio Belaire – 83F, 8.4pH, 110mS, 54ppm
ephemeral trib to Belaire (rivulus, mollies, etc.) – 79F, 7.1pH, 1000mS, 410ppm
Location 7 Rio Jutiapa – 84F, 8.4pH
Location 8 Rio Monga – 83F, 7.4pH
Hope this helps. And just cause the info is right in front of me, here's the species caught in each location.
#1 was Rio Copan, we only got Microthalms there
#2 was Rio Blanco, Nice red tiger Motoguense, Pocieliops pluraspilus, a few Mexicana mollies
#3 was Choloteca (?sp) Anebleps, spot tail molly (with the bar tail), convicts, hogaboomrum, a roberstsoni type, cutteri, Motos and possibly loiselli and managuense
#4 was at the Hotel I believe is was Rio Danta? New Parachromis, robertsoni, Gambusia lumia, Dominator gobies, cutteri, mollies, Others I'll have to look up
#5 was the rocky river north of La Ceiba, Name?? 3 species of Gobies, white cutteri, mollies
#6 Rio Blanco Alfrao Huberi, X. mayae (swords) Rivulus irvini, cutteri, Spot tail molly, Mexicana molly, robertsoni, mexican tetras
#7 was Rio Jutiapa Cutteri, mollies
#8 Rio Monga Red point type nigrafasiatus.
Ok thanks you guys. the aquarium is a 10 gallon for now but in a few weeks I will be getting paid again and will be purchasing the new filter and heater that I need for my 55 gallon...lost them when I moved. Also another question...once I get my 55 gallon running what other types of cichlids will go good with the ones that I have now and will not cause too much disturbance once they are finally put in? Again thanks for all the help you guys.
none. the ones you have now are already going to be too much fish for a 55 when they mature. adding more fish will only compound the problem.
Ok well then I was also wondering if I could find out what sex my fish are would I be able to get a mate for each of my fish once I get the 55 gallon set up? Also the 55 gallon that I have is one that is long and short not one that is tall and narrow...just thought I would like to point that out as well. Well thanks again.