If You Had My Water.....

[190MPH]

.....what would you keep? I have well water, pH from the tap is 7.6, out-gasses to 8.0-8.2. KH is 70-80ppm, GH 160-170ppm. No chlorine/chloramines.

I'm asking in case I ever consider another tank. I seem to have hit a few bumps in the road since my stocking because I've lost a few fish. So now I'm second guessing my community decision. I recently got the Baensch Atlases(1&2) so I've just started reading up. I do like the look of many of the cichlids. I would also consider a rainbow tank.

 

[lyotim88]

what size tank?

 

[190MPH]

Sorry, 72g.

 

[mardaver]

.....what would you keep? I have well water, pH from the tap is 7.6, out-gasses to 8.0-8.2. KH is 70-80ppm, GH 160-170ppm. No chlorine/chloramines.

I'm asking in case I ever consider another tank. I seem to have hit a few bumps in the road since my stocking because I've lost a few fish. So now I'm second guessing my community decision. I recently got the Baensch Atlases(1&2) so I've just started reading up. I do like the look of many of the cichlids. I would also consider a rainbow tank.

You've got the perfect water parameters for livebearing fish and Rainbows. Barbs tend to like slightly acidic water, as do tetras and labyrinth fish.
If I were you, I'd go in that direction. If your tank is well cycled and you keep up with regular weekly water changes, you shouldn't have any problems.
Good luck!

 

[OldMan47]

In addition to typical livebearers and rainbows, your water would be a fairly good match for the African Rift lake cichlids. I have similar water that is slightly lower pH and can keep almost anything. I find livebearers very easy to keep because they give me a good match with the water without a lot of tinkering.

 

[190MPH]

Thank you OM. That seems to be the general consensus everywhere I asked, although it seems I might have to add a bit of crushed coral to the filter to up the KH a little. I'm right on the edge of OK/little buffering. I really do like some of the cichlids and I never realized how many there are after looking through the Baensch books.