60 gallon

[slickwillislim]

I recently purchased a 60 gallon tank (48.5x17.25x15.5") I purchased an xp2 with it, I got an inline eth heater and a glass hood with a light fixture. I havent set it up because my parents wont let me until i raise my japanese grade. With this in mind i have time to plan it out.

I was thinking about putting a colony of apistos in but I dont know what species I think I will have to put one of my bitaeniata pairs in there because they are getting chased around in my 29g. What apistos get along well with bitaeniata i as looking at Apistogramma eremnopyge but cant seem to find them online let alone at my lfs. Uwe Romers book says that bitaeniata like to be kept in groups but i would like to try a new apisto. I like the Extended finnage of bitaeniata and eremnopyge. Would a different colormorph of bitaeniata get along well I am completely open to suggestions.

Whats the cheapest way to find your ph. I nead a test that will go below six. I dont really have enough money left to buy a ph meter and if i did I would get the hanna ph/tds. I dont really want to buy a really crappy meter because thats just a waste of money in my eyes.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Mike Wise]

I would suggest some species other than A. eremnopyge. This species is a member of the bitaeniata-group together with A. bitaeniata. This is some possiblility that they could cross-breed. I would suggest adding a macmasteri- or nijsseni-group species with your bitaeniata.

Back in the "old days" Tetra made 2 freshwater test kits. pH I tested waters from 4.8 to 7.4, if I remember correctly. It was accurate & fairly inexpensive. I don't know of anyone whose test kit goes that low now. Mardel has some test strips that go into the pH 5 range I believe. If you only have 1 or 2 tanks, they might be cost effective, but for more tanks they can get rather expensive. I suggest saving your money & buying the Hanna meter instead of a tank next time. You will be looking at an initial cost of about $200 for the meter, buffering compounds (pH 4 & 7), and probe stabilization fluid.

 

[slickwillislim]

This is only my second tank. I am looking into the ph meter but i havent been serious about breeding so it isnt really neccassary. I am just looking for a way to know what my ph is in my rainwater after adding peat. I will look into the various apistos you suggested and I had the same worries about having to fish from the bitaeniata complex.

I got the tank mainly because i got it for a good deal along with the filter, heater, gravel, hood, and lights.

 

[Fatts]

If you are looking for a Meter for a decent price check out Aquabid.com. That is where I got mine. Here is a link to the Hanna one. I found that mine paid for itself in less than a years. I was buying 2 different PH test kits and 3 different GH/KH type kits, just so that I could get numbers that I "trusted"

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?waterq&1137792006