my PH is 7.8....are CA/SA cichlids out of the question?

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Drake Titan

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May 8, 2003
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just got a test kit and tested my tap water.....7.8

i wanted to go with CA/SA cichlids...specifically couple convicts and a JD in my 55G.

with that PH...are those fish out of the question.....I'll be tracking the PH periodically to see if it flucuates, but if its consistantly at 7.8 they handle that?

:cool:
 
Those fish/cichlids require neutral ph. 7.8 ph is more for African Cichlid.

Try to lower the ph.
 
how can i lower it?

Driftwood?

are they any other ways...besides chemicals (which I'd rather not do)

my parents have a water softner...will that work...it would be tough cause they live 20 miles from me (and in the bay area 20 miles is far)
 
Someone told me that sometimes it depends on what kind of gravels you have. Crush corals can cause high ph. That's what I have right now in one of my tanks. No matter what I do, the ph stays the same.

You just started the tank? How long has it been cycling? If you aren't using crush coral for gravel, try partial water change. It worked on my other tank that doesn't have crush coral.
 
That ph be just fine...no problems at all...ca ciklids often go in that ph...most ca ciklids are very hardy even some sa ciklids dont care if they go in that ph...my tapwater level is ph 8 and i have angels,GT:s,and pikes from s/a.
 
Actually, vilhelm's fish are all New World cichlid.

Driftwood usually does help with lowering ph. New World Cichlids are hardy fish. They can deal with ph between 6.5 and higher. However, hardiness doesn't mean one shouldn't watch out for the ph.

BTW, did you check ammonia and nitrite level? Those can cause ph up too.
 
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You pH is PERFECT for CA cichlids. SA prefer more acidic water, but the pH values in the CA lakes especially, and the rivers, too, are high (definitely alkaline).
 
I don't think I'd try for bolivian rams or discus in a higher PH tank, but I'd imagine most of the new world's can live in 7.8... a stable PH is probably a better idea than trying to fiddle with it and have nasty swings.
 
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