Converting setup and mixing Dwarfs

[Cooder]

Hey all,

I currently have a standard 4ft 200L (55gal +/-) that has been a hard water, Tanganyikan setup for about 5 years now, and i want to convert it to a soft water, planted Apisto display.
This is probably not the best section to put this thread in but anyway...
I was wondering whether i can use my existing media that has been in used in hard water for so long, or do i have to change media to avoid buffering the soft water up? I use rain water.

I plan to purchase another canister to double the filtration, so would like to use the current media to help seed the new media, but i'm unsure to whether it will affect the water parameters.

Also, can i mix 2 pairs/trios of 2 different apisto species in a tank of that size, along with tetras/pencilfish, catties without consequences? My preferred looking species are agassizi, bitaeniata, trifacs, macmasteri and inka 50/baenschi, and i have had good experience with agas in a 2ft (there would be lots more that i would love to keep but these are just a few )
I wasnt going for a breeding setup, more an aquascaped display for the living room.

Also, could i perhaps keep 2 or 3 pterophyllum altums with the dwarfs for the mid water or would they be a bit too aggressive?

Im also interested in a dwarf species different to apistogramma but im not sure what is available and readily shipped in Australia. I really like the look of D. filamentosus for example....
I havent done much research on other dwarfs so forgive me, haha...

 

[regani]

I would change to new media and also scrub the tank with vinegar or citric acid. Those alkaline salts, especially the carbonates can be very persistent and affect your pH and conductivity for a long time. Better to get it right from the start rather than having to battle it afterwards.
As long as you don't want to breed your fish the mix seems ok. There will be conflict between the apistos and corydoras, but with sufficient floor space and cover that should be ok.
For a mix of apistos pick different body shape and finnage/coloration and you should be ok.
Other dwarfs available here are dicrossus, laetacara, microgeophagus, nannacara - which exact species varies a bit

 

[Cooder]

Thanks for the tips. I would like them to breed, because that's most of the fun with Cichlids, watching breeding behaviour. Im just not bothered with keeping and raising all the fry.

I really like the look of Ivanacara adoketa, so if they are available to ship to me they are an option. Could i have a pair/group of them with a pair of apistos?

About to go searching for info on these...

Thanks

 

[regani]

You picked a species there that is not easy to keep. They require really soft, low TDS and clean water. If you don't have that much experience with soft water fish, I would probably pick another species for the tank. They are really expensive here as well...

The Nannacara species are similar, with the female also showing black and white breeding colours and the males metallic colours, depending a bit on which species.
Laetacara are also a bit easier to find and keep.

I can point you to some shops who keep those dwarfs, send me a pm if you want more info

 

[Cooder]

Thanks and yeh after a bit of snooping it seems like they aren't what im after for this tank. I might put the idea of different dwarfs aside for a bit and focus on apistos.
The idea of having 2 males and 4 females seems appealing, im just not sure whether it would cause territorial problems. The particular species depends on what is available at the time and pricing etc. I will probably be getting my stock from Jodie at FishChicks.
Im also planning on using ama amazonia aquasoil as i have had good experiences with that, and maybe a fine river gravel... not sure yet.

Any more tips?

 

[regani]

PM sent

The soil will help to keep the pH down but it will also leach nutrients into the water, raising the conductivity - how much, I am not sure, it should be ok for for most soft water species as many people seem to have success using that type of soil. You will just have to keep areas of soil and sand (better than fine gravel) separate, otherwise the sand will always make its way to the bottom, leaving only the soil on top.

 

[Cooder]

My Agas bred like rabbits when i had aquasoil, rainwater and almond leaves, so i would consider that "success". Would lots of plants process the nutrients that raise conductivity?

What i call "fine river gravel" is more coarse sand in size and texture, its in the creeks and streams around my area.

 

[regani]

Yep, plants will take up the majority of the nutrients (provided there is enough light and CO2). You can always check with a TDS or conductivity meter (they are quite cheap).
Sand should be fine enough for the fish to pick up, munch on and spit out/pass out through the gills. Anything that fits that description will help the apistos to show natural behaviour. There also seems to be some (anecdotal?) evidence that it helps them to stay healthy.

 

[Cooder]

How many males maximum could i have in a tank this size, properly decked out with multiple territories of course. Im guessing 2 max?

What ratio?

 

[regani]

I wouldn't have more than two pairs or maybe trios in the tank as there will already be competition for space from the other fish in the tank.
With trios it will get more tricky with territories, unless you find a way to persuade each apisto species to settle in one side of the tank. Maybe a divider for the first week or two would work?

 

[Cooder]

How about same species? I guess it depends but as i said in my original post, im mainly interested in A. agassizii, A. bitaeniata, A trifaciata and A baenschi to name a few. There are of course many others i would keep other than those...

 

[regani]

You could perhaps fit 3-4 females an two males of one species into a tank that size. You may have to rearrange the decor a couple of times to find a setup where the territories are evenly distributed throughout the tank.
I'd throw in a few pieces of floating pipe to start with to provide spaces for save retreat until things settle down.

 

[Cooder]

Sounds good, now i have to decide on media, substrate, lighting, plants and fish...
Who doesn't love the process of setting up a new tank.