Hey Pleco experts! I’m in the frustratingly common process of rearranging/scaping/stocking my whole fish room for around the 300th time in the last couple of months since buying a new house and massively increasing my gallonage.
In the midst of all the moving and shaking I realized that I forgot to hold a place for my Royal L330! (I pretty much never see him in his current home) He’s too small to stay where he’s at right now, and far too slow growing. I have 1 really good option as far as space and tankmates, it’s my first ever black water tank.
My normal tap water Ph has fit the needs of everything I keep currently, but I’m letting the Blackwater tank cycle normally and slowly instead of jump starting it with used media; this way I’ll have all of my maintenance schedules and methods mastered to keep the parameters as consistent as possible. I’m currently keeping it at around 5.8 Ph, mixing almond leaves into a 55g trash can and letting them soak over the week, 5.8 is where the water sits after 7 days and that’s where the tank is at with its own leaf litter/driftwood. I’ve only ever had it jump up by maybe .1 at most and we’re talking 55g out of a 180g tank, so far stable as can be.
My question is really, since most every website I’ve seen puts their ideal Ph at closer to 6.5, would he be able to live healthy, happy, and grow in this softer water? If it’s a firm no, I’ll look at other options and perhaps shuffle up again (I’m not getting rid of the guy). If it’s a maybe/yes, what if any thing should I keep an eye out for?
180g tank; 78 degrees F; still cycling (no live additions till it’s done, no worries); Ph 5.8; FX6 canister/2x Marineland emperor 400 HOB; a handful of anubias species; future stock is 1x Satanoperca Lilith and a boat load of black neon tetras.
In the midst of all the moving and shaking I realized that I forgot to hold a place for my Royal L330! (I pretty much never see him in his current home) He’s too small to stay where he’s at right now, and far too slow growing. I have 1 really good option as far as space and tankmates, it’s my first ever black water tank.
My normal tap water Ph has fit the needs of everything I keep currently, but I’m letting the Blackwater tank cycle normally and slowly instead of jump starting it with used media; this way I’ll have all of my maintenance schedules and methods mastered to keep the parameters as consistent as possible. I’m currently keeping it at around 5.8 Ph, mixing almond leaves into a 55g trash can and letting them soak over the week, 5.8 is where the water sits after 7 days and that’s where the tank is at with its own leaf litter/driftwood. I’ve only ever had it jump up by maybe .1 at most and we’re talking 55g out of a 180g tank, so far stable as can be.
My question is really, since most every website I’ve seen puts their ideal Ph at closer to 6.5, would he be able to live healthy, happy, and grow in this softer water? If it’s a firm no, I’ll look at other options and perhaps shuffle up again (I’m not getting rid of the guy). If it’s a maybe/yes, what if any thing should I keep an eye out for?
180g tank; 78 degrees F; still cycling (no live additions till it’s done, no worries); Ph 5.8; FX6 canister/2x Marineland emperor 400 HOB; a handful of anubias species; future stock is 1x Satanoperca Lilith and a boat load of black neon tetras.
