Blue Acara

[sssmitty]

55gal tank. Looking for some ideas for tank mates for a Blue Acara. Keeping only one Blue Acara and would like to know what I could keep him/her with even after it reaches adulthood. Not really interested in keeping any other cichlids in the mix.

 

[Magnum Man]

Is yours a wild type blue, or an electric blue???

They have different aggressive levels

 

[sssmitty]

Is yours a wild type blue, or an electric blue???

They have different aggressive levels

Will be EBA

 

[Magnum Man]

Electric blues are really tame for a Cichlid… I have 3 in one tank, and they get along with the Angels to the Cory’s, in my tank, including some Zebra Oto’s that got added yesterday

 

[sssmitty]

Electric blues are really tame for a Cichlid… I have 3 in one tank, and they get along with the Angels to the Cory’s, in my tank, including some Zebra Oto’s that got added yesterday

What size is your tank? Are the Acaras full grown?

 

[Magnum Man]

Mine are in a 45 gallon tall… I don’t think they are fully as big as they’ll get,,, but the biggest is around 5 inches long…

 

[sssmitty]

Nice set up! They may have another inch to go but almost done growing I would say. Thanks for your reply!!

 

[sssmitty]

Mine are in a 45 gallon tall… I don’t think they are fully as big as they’ll get,,, but the biggest is around 5 inches long…View attachment 348385View attachment 348387

Mine are in a 45 gallon tall… I don’t think they are fully as big as they’ll get,,, but the biggest is around 5 inches long…View attachment 348385View attachment 348387

Can I ask what plant is the root system on the to coming from?

 

[Magnum Man]

I grow ( mostly ) Pothos vines, Chinese Evergreen, and Peace Lilies, above my tanks, and use the plants to offer a natural shaded light… in that particular tank, those are all Chinese Evergreen… each plant type, puts down a different looking root system…

 

[Magnum Man]

This was my last thread about the blues… maybe some better pictures there…

Acaras dress up pretty for shrimp cocktail party…

www.fishforums.net

 

[sssmitty]

Great looking!!!

 

[Magnum Man]

A word of caution, in your added picture… the rocks look like limestone, which will leach hardness into your tank… which brings up water in your area… my area is extremely hard water, and I had to add a dedicated RO filter to keep softer water fish… I recommend before buying fish, to find out your water conditions

 

[sssmitty]

Sandstone not limestone. I did the vinegar acid test and found no reaction before adding them. Im running right at 7.9ph. I have access to rso treated water but so far levels are stable with my tap water

 

[Naughts]

Sandstone also dissolves minerals into the water. Test the GH (general hardness) and compare with the GH in the source water to see it’s impact. PH is not as significant as GH for the fish.
Vinegar is often too weak an acid to react with rocks.

 

[gwand]

I have been burnt using vinegar. Now I use hydrochloric acid. No false negative test.