Can plecos go in saltwater?

Can I keep a pleco with a jewel cichlid?

I have a jewel cichlid, a red zebra, and a blue acara, they are all about 3-4 inches. The cichlids all get along good. Will I be able to keep a pleco with these fish? Thanks in advance. How big of a tank is it? Unless it’s 80g+, you’re limited to the plecos that stay small. Also, I’m guessing the cichlids you’ve listed are African.

Do plecos like acidic or alkaline water?

I know plecos like more acidic water, however I am keeping a sailfin pleco w/ my mbunas and a common pleco w/ my peacocks both are very healthy and doing fine.

What kind of plecos can I put in a tank with cichlids?

What kind of plecos can I put in a tank with cichlids? I had one that was bigger than my cichlids, but my red zebra killed it. I have a jewel cichlid, a red zebra, and a blue acara, they are all about 3-4 inches. The cichlids all get along good.

What is the minimum pH needed for fish to survive?

If the pH is less than 5.0 or higher than 11.0 it is unlikely that your fish will survive. Alkalinity is being decreased all the time by bacterial action which produces acidic compounds.

Does size matter when buying plecos?

I wouldn’t go for the small sized when you buy them, and I wouldn’t go for the ones that will outgrow your tank either (the sailfin pleco will be housed in a much bigger tank at the end of this summer we are getting a 90-100g tank). The first pleco we put in w/ the mbunas was lunch, it was way to small. so we learned size matters.

What is jewel cichlid care?

Jewel cichlid care is something that revolves mostly around your ability to manage their aggressive tendencies. This is what you hear people talk about most when it comes to this fish, and it’s for good reason. However, it’s also crucial to understand the essential tank and water guidelines they need as well.

Can I keep multiple jewel cichlids in the same tank?

If you intend on keeping multiple Jewel cichlids in the same tank you’ll want to increase the size by roughly 10 gallons to play it safe. We’ve heard from aquarists who have gotten away with pairs in as little as 30 gallons, but there are also plenty of others who’ve gotten fish killed trying this.

What kind of fish can live with a normal pH?

Many fish actually thrive at and around normal pH. This is why you’re supposed to switch out the water in the fishbowls and why aquariums have filters. Angelfish, Goldfish, Clownfish, the Zebra Danio, and the Neon Tetra, all thrive at or around normal pH.

What fish can go well with Jewel cichlids?

What fish can go with Jewel cichlids? There are rare cases where other fish varieties are kept with these aggressive cichlids. It can keep with catfish such as Pictus, Pleco, fast-swimming tiger barbs, lion head cichlids, Aulonocara and Kribensis, etc.

How to care for Jewel cichlids?

Most of the Jewel Cichlids prefer to be kept between the pH levels of 6.5 to 7.5 and the temperature should range between 74°F and 80°F. Apart from the water parameter requirements for the fish, you should also consider the decorations for the tank.

What is the difference between soft and hard water?

In particular, calcium and magnesium. Water with a low GH is said to be soft, and water with a high GH is considered hard. So, soft water has very little or no calcium and magnesium. Hard water has a lot.

What is the pH of a river?

Rivers and lakes generally range between 5 (acidic) and 9 (basic) on the pH scale. Whereas ocean water averages closer to 8.2 (slightly basic). Low pH can reduce how many fish eggs hatch and can make life difficult for fish and macroinvertebrates (the backbone of our water ecosystems).

What is the pH of freshwater fish?

Sensitive freshwater species such as salmon prefer pH levels between 7.0 and 8.0, becoming severely distressed and suffering physiological damage due to absorbed metals at levels below 6.0 ⁴⁰.

What is the difference between soft water and hard water?

When the dH is 0 to 6 and the ppm is 0 to 100, the water is soft or very soft. When the water’s dH is 6 to 25 and the ppm is 101 to 449, it’s slightly hard to hard. When dH is 30 or more and the ppm is 450 or more, the water is considered “liquid rock,” or very hard. Water’s KH is related to the aquarium’s pH level.

How do you know if water is hard or soft?

A Hard Water Primer 1 When the dH is 0 to 6 and the ppm is 0 to 100, the water is soft or very soft. 2 When the water’s dH is 6 to 25 and the ppm is 101 to 449, it’s slightly hard to hard. 3 When dH is 30 or more and the ppm is 450 or more, the water is considered “liquid rock,” or very hard.

How to test aquarium water at home?

Fortunately, these days, you can test your tank water at home using testing strips or hardness testing kits, which are cheap and easy to work with. You can also use electronic test equipment or aquarium monitors to measure the hardness and pH levels with high a level of accuracy.

How to make aquarium water harder?

Putting soft rocks containing minerals in your aquarium can cause the minerals to dissolve and leach into the water, thus increasing its hardness. The presence of corals and shells in the tank can boost calcium levels as well.

What is water hardness and why does it matter?

Water hardness means different things to a chemist than it does an aquarium hobbyist. Technically, hardness is a measurement of how likely water is to leave mineral-rich residue as it evaporates. Functionally, hardness equals the concentration of calcium and magnesium in the water.

What is the hardness of water in aquarium?

Water hardness is known as general hardness. General hardness is measured by measuring the concentration of calcium and magnesium in water. Water with a high concentration of two minerals is of high GH, while those with low concentration have low GH. Fish in aquariums need minerals, but high levels of them may have adverse effects on your fish.

What kind of fish can live in soft water?

You want to keep a specific type of fish On the flipside, some fish thrive in harder water such as cichlids, while others thrive in soft water like discus. If you want to keep soft water fish, you need to monitor your GH water conditions.

What is pH in aquariums and why does it matter?

It’s not something most of us think about on a daily basis, but almost all liquids, including water, have a pH level—but in aquariums or fish tanks, that pH level can have a huge impact on your fish and plants. High pH in aquariums happens, but there are ways to manage it. What is pH? pH is a measure of hydrogen ions in a solution.

What is the best pH level for a tropical fish tank?

Since most aquarists keep fish from different environments in the same aquarium, it is best to find a pH that all tank inhabitants are comfortable at. Most freshwater tropical fish do best between 6.8 and 7.8, however, some species come from areas where pH can be significantly higher or lower than these values.

Do fish prefer acidic or alkaline water?

Certain types of freshwater fish find a lower acidic pH as preferable to live and thrive in. Before you purchase fish for your Aquarium get that information you need to keep groups of fish together that prefer the same types of pH.

What happens if you put fish in high pH water?

However, fish will be killed when abruptly transferred to waters with pH values more than 1 unit higher than the water to which they were acclimated. Sudden transfer to waters 1.5 pH units higher will kill about 50 percent of the fish, and transfer to water 2.2 pH units higher will kill almost all the fish.

What is the pH of ocean water?

Whereas ocean water averages closer to 8.2 (slightly basic). Low pH can reduce how many fish eggs hatch and can make life difficult for fish and macroinvertebrates (the backbone of our water ecosystems). What does a pH measurement mean? The most important thing is to first establish a baseline for testing.