Setup of Apisto Tank

[wasabi8888]

Hi all

I read dbcyeo sticky on the setup of apisto tank...Got a couple of questions to ask (Yes, Benny, I am trying to breed the Aga Super Red from Aphistoworld).

1. pH should be 6. My setup for the tank (previously for CRS) is a pH 7. Temperature about 26 degrees with fan. I read that dbcyeo uses Amtra Oak bark. Where can i buy that? How does it work?

2. Pertaining to Point 1, when i change water, I usually age the water overnight... do i add the that extract to bring the water pH to 6 before i pour it in? My fear is that water condition is crucial in breeding, would that upset the parameters of the tank.

3. The above does not make sense if the aga can breed and have beautiful colors at pH 7. Do I need to bring it down at all?

[yorky]

Hi wasabi,
Apistogramma agassizii super red belongs to a group of apistogrammas that are easier to breed than others.
Although I've not bred A. Agassizii super reds before but I have had success with A. bitaeniata tefe breeding near neutral too.
pH 6 as dbcyeo suggests is a typical condition good enough to show and breed most apistos.

My suggestion is that so long as you are not keeping the pair in alkaline water conditions and feeding them well, you have a good chance they will spawn for you even at pH 7.
If not, try lowering it to pH 6 then. You probably have better luck with slightly acidic water condition.

[wasabi8888]

Thanks yorky....

if that's the case i wont bother to lower the pH....

i would prefer it that way as well.... easier to maintain water conditions...

[Cacatuoides]

My current pair of Bitae is housed in pH 6.7..... I think Aquasoil takes time to kick in the low pH?

[yorky]

My current pair of Bitae is housed in PH 6.7..... I think Aquasoil takes time to kick in the low ph?

Shouldn't be.
Its usually within 2-3 days that I get to pH6 for a 2 footer tank with 1cm to 1.5cm thick.
How long have you had your Aquasoil?
How much did you put? As in how thick (in cm)?

[Cacatuoides]

about 1cm....already in for more than a week..

[valice]

Sorry for digging an old thread out but thought it is relevant...
When we use ADA soil as a mean to bring down pH for our apistogrammas, anyone encountered algae before? Given that ADA soil is pretty fertile...

[PeterGwee]

You need to look for ways to get around the NH4 leech out by the Aquasoil which usually means planting heavily and adding mulm.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Wackytpt]

Sorry for digging an old thread out but thought it is relevant...
When we use ADA soil as a mean to bring down pH for our apistogrammas, anyone encountered algae before? Given that ADA soil is pretty fertile...

My tank is pretty fine except for a little hair alage on a certain spot on the driftwood.
No major algae problem.

[valice]

You need to look for ways to get around the NH4 leech out by the Aquasoil which usually means planting heavily and adding mulm.

Regards
Peter Gwee

But how will mulm help? mulm's bacteria to break down ammonia?

Even a thin layer will have the ammonia problem? The tank I have in mind is just totally java fern and nanas and nothing else... ADA soil is just to bring down the pH and kH...

[PeterGwee]

Yes, live bacteria culture for a quick start (Still take sometime to get the population up). You can add loads of Java Fern/Nanas on wood and small stones place around well to create a dense vegetation for apisto hiding places and great for NH4 uptake.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[valice]

Okie... Will remember on that...
I understand how I can also scape the tank already...

[wasabi8888]

Vincent

Show us a picture of the tank when it's ready

[valice]

Sure... But the tank must arrive first... Still waiting...
Anyway, my other tank is also an apisto tank... Hahaha...
Actually, all my planted tanks are apisto tanks...

[wasabi8888]

Vincent

wanted to ask you but forgot... you probably have CO2 injections in your apisto tanks... how do you manage to balance the max Co2 with the health of the apistos?

[valice]

I treat them like I treat other fishes... Up the CO2 till the max level where if there is gasping in the dithers, I will tune it down slightly...

Been slowly tuning it for the past week to get the optimum pearling within 2 hours... But still have not reached that stage...

For the other 2 tanks, they are non-CO2...

[wks]

Vincent, another way to avoid BBA in your apisto tank is to use lapis sand or any inert gravel. Use peat or black water to lower pH.
For my A baenschi tank, I just leave it bare bottom. I don't have BBA, only green algae which is easily taken care of by yamato shrimps.

[valice]

BBA is not an issue if it is a non-co2 tank unless I constantly change water...
What I am worry are the other algae... But if follow the usual plant tank ways, think it should be okay...

My A. bitaeniata sure make a meal out of any yamatoes in the tank... Hahaha...

[genes]

vincent, i've seen bba in non-co2 tanks.

My A.cacatuoides cleared my 3footer of all the cherries too. Get those huge yamatos from NA. They won't get preyed on. Currently all my 10 huge yamatos have been in the 3footer with my huge A.cacatuoides for couple of months already. No casulties.