High pH Biotope in a 20 gallon?

Hey all,

I inherited a 20 gallon tall , and I would like to make a biotope or cool themed tank out of it. So far I have just the tank, so everything else will have to be bought separately. There are lots of cool ideas on Fishlore, but the problem is my tap water. It has a pH of 8.0 This really limits my options in terms of biotopes and fish species. So I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions about fish and plants for a high pH biotope (I'm open to all ideas, just not brackish as this is only my second tank). Also, what filter, heater, and light would work for the biotope/tank?

 

African rift lake species. like shell dwellers.

 

African rift lake species. like shell dwellers.

100% agree, there is not much choice for high pH-biotopes in a tank that size. Though I urge to stick to Lake Tanganyika. Malawi and Victoria cichlids all grow too big for a 20 gallon.

Take a look into shell dwelling cichlids. There are colony building species like Neolamprologus multifasciatus but also rather singular living species like Lamprologus ocellatus. There are very few species of shell dwellers that won't work in a 20 gallon.

Otherwise smaller species of Julidochromis (like transcriptus) might work and also a small group of rockdwelling Lamprologini. Stay clear from any mouthbrooders from that lake, though.

 

Many livebearers and non-new-world fish do fine in 8.0 pH, such as guppies, platies, mollies, rainbowfish, danios, etc.

 

The shell dwellers might just be what I'm looking for! How would I go about setting up their tank? Rainbowfish are also very pretty, but I'll have to do some research on them

I just had an idea : Would fish that have been bred in my local area for a while be alright in my tank seeing as they've been raised in my tap water? That would open up some more options, including dwarf and honey gouramis that are bred in my area.
What would look good with a gourami species?

 

I just had an idea : Would fish that have been bred in my local area for a while be alright in my tank seeing as they've been raised in my tap water? That would open up some more options, including dwarf and honey gouramis that are bred in my area.
What would look good with a gourami species?

It would not be a biotope, but most acidic water fish will adapt to a pH of 8.

 

Feeling really stupid right now lol But we just moved, and I fogot to test the tap water. Turns out the pH is actually ~7.5 so that opens up more options. Does anyone have ideas for a honey gourami/Asian biotope now? It would be my first community tank, so nothing too fancy

Thanks and sorry for the confusion!

 

Feeling really stupid right now lol But we just moved, and I fogot to test the tap water. Turns out the pH is actually ~7.5 so that opens up more options. Does anyone have ideas for a honey gourami/Asian biotope now? It would be my first community tank, so nothing too fancy

Thanks and sorry for the confusion!

What now? Biotope OR community?

 

What now? Biotope OR community?

Biotope for sure. Sorry lol

 

I am not sure that 7.5 would still make an asian biotope.. you need to water to be soft too.

If you want a honey gouramis biotope you are looking at the Ganges river in india, but the amount of sediment and pollution in that river makes it difficult to recreate.

 

I am not sure that 7.5 would still make an asian biotope.. you need to water to be soft too.

If you want a honey gouramis biotope you are looking at the Ganges river in india, but the amount of sediment and pollution in that river makes it difficult to recreate.

Oh, that's a bummer . In that case, I may just try my hand at my first community tank (planted and naturalistic, just not necessarily a biotope), which will have honey gouramis as the centerpiece fish. How many honey gouramis would you keep in a heavily planted 20 gal, and what would you keep with them?

Sorry for all the questions, just want my future fish to be happy and healthy!

 

I think Homey gourami would be super cool! Don’t think they’d mind a higher pH, they’re pretty adaptable. If you wanted to lower the pH you could use peat moss or let tannins leak out from drift wood

 

Ok thank you so much. Would a trio work in a 20 gallon (Standard) or would just one be better?