ahiggins

I have three cherry barbs (2 female, 1 male) in a well cycled 1o gallon tank. I am looking to get more fish but my pH is kind of high, 7.8. I looked at the profiles for neon tetras and plecos, and their max pH is 7.5. I also looked at getting a few corys but their max temp is 78 degrees. My tank is set between 78 and 80 degrees. Can I go ahead and get any of these fish or will they suffer from the increased temp/pH levels?

or

Any ideas for good tank mates that can live in these conditions?

Thanks.

Shawnie

you could get some cories..mine love it in the tank that I keep at 80

MeGustaUnaPez926

I don't know... the pH seems pretty high for cories. Cichlid experts- is that tank to small for any cichlids?, because I know they like a high pH.

Shawnie

that could be true..ive never tested the ph in any of my tanks..im going to do that now out of curiosity..I gotta know what mine is LOL ...most fish acclimate to different ph levels ...as long as they are steady and dont fluctuate...

EDIT: after testing, one tank 55 gal is 6.8 and my other 30 gal is 7.4 ...both have cories..so I guess im not sure what to recommend now ...that was the first time for me testing ph..im going to do all my tanks now because im so curious LOL....

prairielilly

I've been told/read that the posted pH for a species is their ideal condition but they usually can adapt to most aquarium conditions, and that it's more important that the pH remain stable than that it be at some certain value (for most cases, not extremes). For instance in my city the water is basic and hard, yet lots of people keep all kinds of common community aquarium fish.

I have had cherry barbs (wundeeful little fishies) with mollies, platies and harlequin rasboras, and I'm about to put some together with a dwarf gourami and some otos. You could add two more barbs and have a little school, or add a few otos instead. Or a DG with your present barbs (sorry, a little biased here...)

Shawnie

sad to say, ive never tested for ph levels until today..ive had tanks for 9 years..in the beginning I tested and used all those chemicals to adjust them..for the past 6 years, ive never tested and just acclimated properly..only in the last year, have I known about properly cycling ...so I guess in my tanks, I dont care what the ph is as long as my ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are on check..but thats me...

MeGustaUnaPez926

I think the pH is to high for cories. (not yours, Shawnie, but ahiggins) They have a pretty wide range, but at most fish stores they are not kept at that level of pH. And, I see your from Seattle, ahiggins. Do you shop at The Fish Store? Because I know that their tanks pH is not that high. When you add fish to your aquarium, no matter how well you acclimate them, if the pH is just too different, even if its in their range, they will go into pH shock a few days later, where they will most likely die after rocketing around the tank upside down. And, if you don't shop at The Fish Store, I would highly recommend it.

Butters

My pH that I use out of the tap water is somewhere around 8 and I have kept cories, tetras, barbs, and a lot others without problem. The key is to maintain stability and take care when you first introduce them into your tank. I have kept cherry barbs with cories, platys, swordtails, plecos, and black phantom tetras and they have never bothered them, they are great community fish.

ahiggins

Thanks for all of your feedback. I ended up getting 4 neon tetras, and acclimated them for about an hour. I plan to closely monitor the levels and keep up with weekly water changes.

Can I still get a pleco? I know that is a large bioload for a 10 gallon (3 barbs, 4 tetras), but I have a sponge filter as well as a regular mechanical/biological one and take good care of the tank.

To MeGustaUnaPez926: I do not get my fish from the Fish Store because I have heard that they have many sick fish, and in my experience they can be a little rude.

Thanks again, and I'll be back with any questions/problems that may arise.

Amanda

A pleco is too much of a bio-load burden for a 10 gal.

Alasse

My tap water at my old place used to be 8 and i kept cories no probs, those same cories moved with me and the tank to my new place where they now are in tankwater. They are far hardier than some give them credit for.

I have my Cherry barbs in with Angels, Pakistani loaches, Clown loaches, Bristlenose, Redtailed shark, Cories and Shrimp

MeGustaUnaPez926

Actually, the fish there are very healthy, I'm not sure where you heard that. They can be gruff, I agree, but if you go in there having done a little bit of research and ask intelligent questions, they are very helpful and definitely know their stuff. Look for the guy with round glasses and short brown hair, he's very smart, or the woman. They're the best, IMO.