Re: Bad idea

[Lilia Stepanova <ls691035@bcm.tmc.edu>]

Hi,
The idea behind adding black tea was like this. I checked pH in my tank, 
and it 
was 7.6. I dont know how long it stayed that high - from several hours to 
around a week. I knew female A.cruzi was going to spawn that evening or 
next morning, (she was spawning unsucsessfully every 11-12 days, three 
times total) and I did not have any peat to replace peat filter. So, I 
looked for substitutes, tea first coming in mind. So, tea lowered pH to 
6.25, female spawned next morning. She was much more agressive then 
usual, attacked even me, and I decided not to disturb anything in the 
tank, including putting new peat filter. Eggs were gradually 
disappearing, like in first three spawns, but few remained, and today I 
saw her with couple of fry. Of course, it is anecdotal that only few fry 
remained, but it is her first time having them at all. She cared very well 
for eggs, but looks like not too much for fry. Can it be she decided just 
several kids are not worth care?
Usually pH in their tank stays around 5.6, I still need to find out the 
cause of pH rise that time. The male is about 6 sm, female 4.5. Is he 
still too young, do I need to find him a substitution or try several more 
times?

Thomas Soelter wrote:

> Hi Lilia and Dionigi,
> 
> tea as softener seems a little exotic. But i heard of benefits of black tea in
> breeding congo tetras (Phenacogrammus interruptus). These delicate tetras are
> very diffucult to breed because their eggs need a longer time to develop than
> most other tetra eggs do. In most cases the eggs get infected by bacteria or
> funghi and even if fry comes up there is often a high percentage of belly
> sliders.
> 
> Tea helps: Tea is used in breeding as sterilizer as well as softener and acid
> source for lower pH. Additionaly should be added that fresh tea is blamed to be
> agressive and may damage fish -  water must age a little 3 or 4 days. Dosage ???
> (not sure: about 1 cup of tea per 10 L).
> 
> Must admit no experiences in it.
> 
> Thomas
> 
> 
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