Those are still beautiful pike. I will not go the fire pike route then, thats why I asked these questions im not going too put those pike through that if I can't guarantee perfect conditions for them.. I will look into those pike you mentioned. As for the Crenicichla saxitillis, I would get a pair of two and do you suggest any tank mates with them or only them two??Although the difference between a pH of 7.0 and 7.5 doesn't sound like much, each 10th on the pH represents 10 times.
So a pH of 7.5 is 50 times more basic than the neutral pH of 7.
A river like Rio Atabapo with a pH of 6, is 100 times more acidic that water at pH 7.
Because the Rio Atabapo pikes in the hobby, are not far removed from the wild, they may not have the ability to handle higher pH values, without falling ill to diseases like HITH.
As mentioned above, you may be better off getting something smaller from the genus Crenicichla saxitillis group that may be more tolerant of higher pH situations, and be a better fit in a 135 gal tank.
I was able to keep some wild caught Crenicichla saxatillus species from Uruguay in my pH 7.8 , harder water, a number of years back, in tanks of only 150 gallons.
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And does the same principles for tannins apply for them also?