RE: Ready to get Started! Need fish!

[Ken Gerdes <Ken@GuardianMfg.com>]

Mike,

Is it safe to say that a ph of 8.8 is almost not able to be 
adjusted for apistos??

Thanks,

Ken G




-----Original Message-----
From: Mike & Diane Wise [mailto:apistowise@bewellnet.com]
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2003 12:47 PM
To: apisto@v2.listbox.com
Subject: Re: Ready to get Started! Need fish!


Alan,

With a stable pH of 7.5, I assume that you are mixing your R/O water with
harder tap water. Pure R/O water will naturally drop to a pH between 5.5 &
5.8 due to  atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolved in it. I would recommend
that you try to get the pH in the 6.0-6.8 range. This can be done by mixing
less tap water &/or filtering the water through sphagnum peat. I would do
all the adjustments in holding vats and then
transfer the adjusted water to the aquariums.

Very few apistos come from basic water conditions - even the whitewater
species. Some that are occasionally found in basic water are: A.
steindachneri, A. borellii, A. cacatuoides, some of the A. eunotus forms, A.
sp. macmasteri, & A. sp. Rotpunkt. These fish will breed in basic water, but
I assure you that they are easier to keep & breed - and will be more
productive - in slightly acid conditions. Contrary to John's
suggestion, A. bitaeniata should not be put in basic water. It is a
blackwater fish that does not survive long at pH levels above 7.0 &
certainly will not reproduce in it. A. agassizii will survive in your water
but won't successfully reproduce in it either.

Mike Wise

Alan Whitten wrote:

> Several months ago, I posted my intent to begin breeding Apistos.
>
> I have since completed the cycleing on three 10 gallon breeder tanks, each
with plants, some Zebra Dainos, and caves.  Each tank has been preped with
RO water, and currently has a PH of round 7.5.  I have a steady supply of
frozen food avalible, and I plan to start culturing live food soon.
>
> I read the Krib section on Good/Bad beginners Apistos, and I have some
ideas as to which fish I would like (like Rotpunkts).  But most of the
species listed there are not very avalible on the net.  So what other other
species of Apisto's would ya'll recommend for me to start with?  And if you
have some fish avalible that you think would be good starter fish, and wish
to sell them, please contact me outside the list.
>
> Thank You,
> --C. Alan
>
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