Endler Experiment for Classroom

Hi, In my classroom, we have three 10 gallon tanks with tiger endlers in them. I'd like to have one a neutral ph, one to have a high ph and one to have a low ph. We'll be breeding them, testing behavior and adaptation. Does anyone know how to keep the ph low as naturally as possible?

 

Driftwood and Indian Almond leaves usually work well to lower pH. Take care to keep your pH levels stable.

 

Use driftwood and peat moss in the filter. Also, let any new water sit out over night with an airstone in it. This will help prevent pH swings, by letting the tap water get to its natural pH before going into the tank.

Sounds like a pretty fun experiment. I'm curious to know what will happen

 

Keep us posted!

 

Sounds like an awesome experiment! I wish I had been able to do things like this in school!

Also very interested to see your results. I've always wanted to do some testing of my own to see how temperature, PH and types of foods affect spawns.

With regards to lowering the PH, using RO water would help as well, but I'm not sure if that would wreck your test constraints. Using tap water in 2 and RO in 1 would make it a lil uneven.

 

I'm not sure if you already know how to raise the pH since you didn't mention it, but just in case, you can put crushed coral or seashells into a small pouch (such as the foot of a new pair of pantyhose) and put it in the filter housing. It won't take much for a 10 gallon tank, though.

 

Limestone will also raise pH. Make sure it's really clean before you put it in the tank.

 

Hi, do you have any expected outcomes of your experiment?

Some initial thoughts:
- Livebearers tend to breed in just about anything, as long as it is wet!
- How low a pH are you planning? Beneficial bacteria is affected by pH

Initial high nitrite concentrations may exist. At pH levels below 7.0, Nitrosomonas will grow more slowly and increases in Ammonia may become evident.

Nitrosomonas growth is inhibited at a pH of 6.5. All nitrification is inhibited if the pH drops to 6.0 or less.

Good luck, sounds like a great experiment, look forward to the results.

 

Good point abouthrow pH, Ryan! I forget about that as its not something I need to worry about lol

 

Thanks for all your advice. I've heard temperature also affects breeding/spawning but my chiller is just too big for a 10g. I'd like obviously to keep the ph steady in all of them. Already have one going with crushed coral and another bare bottom or I was thinking of making a moss carpet like people make moss walls, with mesh suctioned cupped to the bottom.

I'll look out for all the materials you've mentioned and thanks again!