Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi everyone, I've got a 190l setup with 9 yo yos, 3 clowns, 1 male keyhole (I'm pretty sure), and 2 female convicts. Don't worry about the clowns, I know they'll need upgrading soon.

I'm thinking of getting some powder blue socolofi cichlids from someone nearby - they're selling them as 2-3cm ...

Hi everyone, I've got a 190l setup with 9 yo yos, 3 clowns, 1 male keyhole (I'm pretty sure), and 2 female convicts. Don't worry about the clowns, I know they'll need upgrading soon.

I'm thinking of getting some powder blue socolofi cichlids from someone nearby - they're selling them as 2-3cm ...

If you were to rehome the cichlids you currently have, it would open up a world of possibilities for you, allowing you to create a tank that's truly tailored to your vision and the needs of your new fish.

I'm not optimistic about this working out. Your current fish are suited to soft to moderately hard water, whereas powder blue socolofi cichlids prefer hard to fairly hard water. That's a significant difference. Compatibility is also a concern. And, to be honest, your tank is already at or possibly ...

To be honest, it's unkind to put a male Betta in with any other fish, regardless of who's there first. As you and others have noted, the Betta can be either the aggressor or the victim. essjay made a valid point, a Betta that may initially seem to tolerate other fish can turn overnight into a real ...

Raising the pH is only part of the equation, the other crucial piece is increasing the GH - and limestone rock just isn't going to cut it. It's not going to make a significant dent in your pH levels unless you're willing to turn your tank into a limestone quarry.

I strongly advise against using ...

There's a lot more at play here than meets the eye. To start, we need to know the GH and KH of both your source water - presumably tap water - and tank water. What are the readings for each? And how about the pH of your source water, making sure to out-gas the CO2 when testing?

The pH is closely ...

Species from different genera generally don't interbreed in the wild, to my knowledge. The aquarium hobby as a whole also strongly discourages cross-breeding between unrelated species, and for good reason - it's rooted in science.

I'm quite particular about ingredients when it comes to fish food. I took a look at one of the Ocean Nutrition options and noticed it contains fish meal - not the healthiest choice, if you ask me. I mean, compare that to something like Omega One's veggie disk, which uses whole salmon, herring, and ...

I think it's worth considering a balanced approach. For me, using an inert substrate and adding rift lake salts is the way to go. This way, you have complete control over the water parameters and don't have to worry about large water changes causing issues.

I've had my share of frustrations with ...