Ready for Apistos ?

[madpiano]

Hello

I think my tank is finally ready for my Apistos.

Here is the latest Measurements:

PH 7.6
KH 3.64
GH 7.84
Nitrates 5mg/l (or below, the lightest colour on the Hagen Test)
CO2 2.73
Phosphates 1.5mg/l

Which Apistos would be happy, with this ?

I was hoping to start with cactoides, but I can only find Agassizi in the shops. Is the PH too high for those ?

The tank is a Juwel 96 and I have 1 coconut shell (overgrown with Java moss) and 1 Hollow Bogwood in there for breeding caves. There is also some dense plants on the sides and some open swimming area in the middle.

Other tank inhabitants:
10 Neon Tetras
2 Cherry Barbs
2 Otos
5 Amano Shrimp
1 Butterfly Goodeid (cranky old thing may have to go, he drives my Barbs mad)
Unknown number of Red Ramshorn Snails

I decided against the cories, as some people have said that they may eat the Apisto's eggs. Shrimps should be ok ?

Substrate is Playsand.

Thanks
Sabine

 

[Bissot_J]

your PH is a little bit high for any Apisto except Cacs who i already raise and spawn at a PH higher than 7.

and just my opinion , you will have to remove this cherry barb from this tank.

 

[madpiano]

Hiya

Thanks. That's what I was thinking. I don't want to play around with the PH too much, otherwise waterchanges will be a pain.

But the Cherry Barbs ? Why would you remove them ? I would have thought the Goodeid could be the problem ?

Thanks
Sabine

 

[2la]

A. eunotus will do fine as well and is at least as adaptable as cacatuoides.

 

[Randall]

Suitable Apistos

Dear Madpiano,

In addition to A. cacatuoides, A. borellii does well in slightly alkaline water too. Depending on the size of the tank, Microgeophagus altispinosa, although not an Apisto, is a peaceful dwarf cichlid that would also do well in your water.

Good luck!

Randall Kohn

 

[farm41]

My A. hoignei spawned in Ph 7.4, they should do OK for you too, and the water was harder than yours.