H. Rasboras over Cardinals

[cupofjoel]

Hey guys,

I'm leaning more toward the H. Rasboras over the cardinals. The H. Rasboras tick off more things on my wishlist in a fish tank. So here's my question:

My pH is around 7.0-7.5, I know pH always fluctuates between water changes, but I can keep it within these parameters. I know that H. Rasboras like pH between 6.0-6.5, softer more acidic water. Do I need to lower my pH? What are your thoughts on Fluval Peat granules? My gut tells me that they can tolerate 7.0 as long as the pH doesn't swing and stays consistent.

thanks.

 

[Colin_T]

Harlequin rasboras and cardinal tetras occur in the same water chemistry (soft acid).

If they are captive bred they will be fine in a pH of 7.0-7.5 and you won't have to do anything to the pH.

 

[Jan Cavalieri]

Personally I'd just leave it alone - I had rasboras fpr quite a while at a PH of around 7. There are chemicals you can use ( PHup, PHdown)but you'll find yourself in an everlasting change in PH, when 7 is probably OK. Community tanks always have these issues where one or more have a ph outside the range of the others. I haven't found it to be a big problem - like you said - stabie

 

[utahfish]

GH is more important than PH.
Cardinals and rasboras both do well in water on the lower end of GH. Low PH is usually associated with low GH as well.
Check your source water GH.

 

[Byron]

I started to respond, then got called away, and now others have said much the same as I intended. The pH is of less importance than the GH. But GH does make a difference, to both of these species, so do you know the GH?

 

[cupofjoel]

I started to respond, then got called away, and now others have said much the same as I intended. The pH is of less importance than the GH. But GH does make a difference, to both of these species, so do you know the GH?

I don't know my GH, don't have a kit to test for it. I'm in Washington state so if anyone knows the GH of our tap that would be helpful...I'm in King county, near Bellevue.

 

[JuiceBox52]

I'm in the same area. We have soft acidic water. I believe the ph will drop once in an established aquarium as the providers add something to raise it

 

[Byron]

I don't know my GH, don't have a kit to test for it. I'm in Washington state so if anyone knows the GH of our tap that would be helpful...I'm in King county, near Bellevue.

Good. That is western (coastal) Washington state. The water in western Oregon and Washington and SW BC where I am is very soft. The pH is very acidic but most water authorities add something to raise the pH and this generally dissipates out. You can expect the pH to lower below 7 in an established aquarium unless you are doing something to buffer or raise it.

Soft water fish species thrive in this water.

The only other thing to mention now with respect to the question of the two species, is the level they swim at in the aquarium. The Trigonostigma species of rasbora will swim mid-tank, and do very little swimming actually. This varies from time to time, but generally that is where you will find the group, and they tend to remain together as a shoal most if not all of the time. Cardinal tetras (Paracheirodon axelrodi) tend to swim mid to lower level, and they too are not all that active but in comparison I suppose they do move about a bit more. They also tend to remain together, but not as tightly as the rasbora species.

Trigonostigma species need a decent sized group, I always aim for 12-15 minimum. Paracheirodon axelrodi should have about the same.

 

[cupofjoel]

I'm in the same area. We have soft acidic water. I believe the ph will drop once in an established aquarium as the providers add something to raise it

Sweet...hello neighbor! Okay, cool I'm glad that my water is ideal for rasboras and tetras. I also have seriyu stone which I believe raises the hardness of water? Most of my hardscape and plants only reach the middle of my 20inch tank, so maybe it would be best to have mid-top level swimmers like Rasboras.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Sweet...hello neighbor! Okay, cool I'm glad that my water is ideal for rasboras and tetras. I also have seriyu stone which I believe raises the hardness of water? Most of my hardscape and plants only reach the middle of my 20inch tank, so maybe it would be best to have mid-top level swimmers like Rasboras.

Can I see a picture of your aquascape? I love aquascape but I suck at it

 

[cupofjoel]

Can I see a picture of your aquascape? I love aquascape but I suck at it

 

[cupofjoel]

I ordered more plants, but this is what I have so far. As stated earlier...I'm getting it ready for new fish, but still researching and figuring out what I want.

 

[cupofjoel]

Excuse the bubbles...just did a 50% water change.

 

[JuiceBox52]

It looks good I think either of your fish ideas would look stunning!

 

[cupofjoel]

It looks good I think either of your fish ideas would look stunning!

Thanks! I want a large school of either fish...BUT I also keep thinking about maybe getting one single fish that will grow large. I heard that large serevums are peaceful and will actually eat from your hand?!