Interesting Find Regarding Petstore Cichlid Tank

I have been all over the place with my tank in what I want to put in it. I thought about african cichlids so I started to research which cichlids will thrive in a 16g biocube. I researched water requirements etc. I read that cichlids need 7.8 to 8.4 ph, but I kept reading from many sites that captive bred really don't need this.

So I went to my local chain pet store and had them test my ph and then I asked them to tell me what theirs is at. They told me it needed to be acidic but when they tested their water it was 6.2

This was opposite direction of the Ph yet their cichlids looked fine. If I decide cichlids I would certainly get my tank to the recommended ph but I found it interesting

 

I have been all over the place with my tank in what I want to put in it. I thought about african cichlids so I started to research which cichlids will thrive in a 16g biocube. I researched water requirements etc. I read that cichlids need 7.8 to 8.4 ph, but I kept reading from many sites that captive bred really don't need this.

So I went to my local chain pet store and had them test my ph and then I asked them to tell me what theirs is at. They told me it needed to be acidic but when they tested their water it was 6.2

This was opposite direction of the Ph yet their cichlids looked fine. If I decide cichlids I would certainly get my tank to the recommended ph but I found it interesting

Did they use the test strips?

 

Did they use the test strips?

Yes

 

Being on a particular PH isn't as important as having a steady PH. In other words, being at EXACTLY 7.8 and constantly adding chemicals, driftwood, leaves, etc., to try and get there isn't nearly as important as a PH that remains constant, even if its 6.2.

 

Yes

The test strips aren't very accurate, so their pH may have actually been higher but who knows. But definitely what DuaneV said

 

Are you sure they weren't SA?

 

Defintely were african cichlids

 

Captive-bred fish can survive in pretty much any pH as long as its consistent.