Peru Cacatuoides

[aarhud]

I maintain my only remaining tank around 800 Micros with the use of Calcium chloride, potatassium bicarbonate (sometimes sodium bicarbonate as there are no plants currently) and epsom salt.

Wetspot has wild A. cacatuoides from Peru. Would they suffer in the above conditions? I am not a fan of the tank strain versions of A. cacatuoides. I really miss having Apistogramma.

I seem to recall that Peruvian species tolerate harder water, but I could have that reversed. Maybe it was Columbian species. I can't find where I read that. I thought Mike may have said that in regards to A. agassizi.

 

[Mike Wise]

800µS/cm is rather hard. Yes, A. cacatuoides can tolerate hard water, at least for short periods of time. Still I personally wouldn't want to try it on wild caught specimens. Is there a reason that you want such hard water? Your water seems better suited for African rift lake or Central American species.

 

[gerald]

I you're starting with low-sodium water and adding potassium (epsom salt and K-bicarb) but not adding Na, then the Na:K ratio might be a problem too.

 

[aarhud]

My tap water is soft and acidic. I'm using the buffer to keep some f1 Archocentrus multispinosa and P. veilfera. I could probably skip the sailfins and lower the water hardness substanially. I doubt the A. multispinosa would care.

I'll skip the Apistogramma for now. Plan B is find a place to suitable for a small Apistogramma tank.

Gerald,
Can you expand on that? What sort of issue would that cause?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

My tap water is soft and acidic.

You can just use your tap water. If it is mains supply you will need to treat it for chlorine/chloramine.

cheers Darrel

 

[aarhud]

Hi all, You can just use your tap water. If it is mains supply you will need to treat it for chlorine/chloramine.

cheers Darrel

The centrals and especially the livebearers do poorly in my tap water. Archocentrus are my favorite group of cichlids. You helped me come up with that buffer mix which worked great by the way.

There are so many nice nano tanks these days that I should be able to find something to work for a pair of Apistogramma. My wife is not a fan of the "Apisto keeper look". You probably know the look. Sponge filters in a dimly lit tank with tannin stained water and leaf litter everywhere. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[gerald]

Most natural waters (maybe all?) have far more Na+ than K+. Fish need both of these +1 ions in their blood and cellular fluids. Their ion-uptake cells for K+ need to more efficient than their Na+ uptake cells because K+ is so much less abundant. If K+ in the water is very high relative to Na+, the fish might not be able to slow down their K+ uptake while still absorbing the Na+ they need, and could end up with a Na:K ratio in their blood and cells that just doesn't work physiologically. Fish species native to estuaries and other places where ion concentrations vary widely can probably adjust their uptake rates of different ions as needed, but fish that evolved in habitats with less natural fluctuation may not be able to adjust. Does this answer the question you were asking? Here's the short version: Add some regular salt too.

 

[aarhud]

Most natural waters (maybe all?) have far more Na+ than K+. Fish need both of these +1 ions in their blood and cellular fluids. Their ion-uptake cells for K+ need to more efficient than their Na+ uptake cells because K+ is so much less abundant. If K+ in the water is very high relative to Na+, the fish might not be able to slow down their K+ uptake while still absorbing the Na+ they need, and could end up with a Na:K ratio in their blood and cells that just doesn't work physiologically. Fish species native to estuaries and other places where ion concentrations vary widely can probably adjust their uptake rates of different ions as needed, but fish that evolved in habitats with less natural fluctuation may not be able to adjust. Does this answer the question you were asking? Here's the short version: Add some regular salt too.

I'm convinced I will never understand water chemistry.

Would I be fine using sodium bicarbonate instead of potassium bicarbonate? I could dose potassium if I noticed plants suffering.

 

[gerald]

Yes you will; you ask good questions. The folks who don't ask will never understand it, and will be forever duped by "water conditioner" marketers.
Yes sodium bicarb will provide more or less the same buffering (KH) that potassium bicarb does.

 

[aarhud]

Thank you, Gerald, haha. After years of being around you and Darrel (in internet form), I don't think one can help but pick up some chemistry knowledge.

The good news is I finally got the all clear to use a 23.5"x14.5" accent table for a small aquarium. As long as its "clean and neat". So I'm scrambling to get something together so I can try those wild cacatuoides.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Thank you, Gerald, haha. After years of being around you and Darrel (in internet form)

I'm a "Gerald" fan as well.

You could try PM'ing "Regani", he is a chemist and he really understands water chemistry.

cheers Darrel

 

[gerald]

It's mutual Darrel (and Regani) - i've learned loads from you guys.