acceptable water chemistry for mollies

[cootwarm]

Following the advice of some members of this forum, I purchased a pair of Lyre Tail Black Mollies for algae control. It was the best thing I could have done! Not only did they eat the BBA (tearing off and eating large chunks), but in just 2 weeks they transformed 2 large clumps of algae ridden and littered Java Moss into pristine condition! They groom it constantly.

Now my question is about what experience do others have with water chemistry for Mollies? From what I've read on mollies, they like harder more alkaline water. Is this a necessity or just a preference?
Can I put mollies in soft, acidy Apisto tanks or should I move the Java Moss that needs cleaning into the mollie tank for a week or so at a time? :?

I wonder if they'll eat green hydras that have been feeding on algae?
The way they groom the Java Moss it seems that they would clean them up as well.

Michael

 

[M0oN]

Mollies will actually do best in brackish waters, it is this reason that people say they prefer it alkaline and in fact given enough time they can be fully acclimated to live in marine tanks.

However, they've been captive bred for so long that they will accept a wide variety of conditions, on top of this they are really tough little guys.

To acclimate them to your apisto's tank put them in a 10 gallon and add half a gallon from your apisto tank once a week for two months, then put them in a bucket with the water from their tank and over 2 hours time drip water from the apisto tank into the bucket, then just dump em' in.

The only things you won't notice by keeping them in softer waters should be breeding behavior, which isn't really a big deal in apisto tanks anyway, as the fry would be eatin' before you'd even see them.