fishinfo.txt

Fish tank chemistry info

pH:
* almost all freshwater fish inhabit waters with a pH from 5-9; majority in 6-7.5
* falls with decaying material (plant and animal wastes)
* when falls below 5.5, bacteria that break down ammonia die and ammonia level rises
* can be lowered using phosphate based chemicals, which encourages algae growth
* lowered by plants and fish during respiration
* difficult to lower in hard water
* raised by adding baking soda
* raised by water change
* lowered by agent like "pH Down"
* lowered by adding water of low pH during water changes

hardness:
* amount of dissolved minerals, especially calcium and magnesium
* usually expressed in amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
* measured in ppm and dH (degrees of hardness) or gH (general hardness)
* very soft = 0-70 ppm, 0-4 gH/dH
* soft = 70-135 ppm, 4-8 gH/dH
* medium hard = 135-200 ppm, 8-12 gH/dH
* hard = 200-350 ppm, 12-20 gH/dH
* very hard >350 ppm, >20 gH/dH
* softened by peat filtration, reverse osmosis, ion exchange resins, or boiling water
* hardened by filtering through dolomite or crushed coral
* very soft water subject to pH crashes
* can test by running electrical current through water; higher conductivity = higher hardness

dissolved gases
* dissolved oxygen in water necessary for respiration
* oxygen added through air pump, higher exposed surface area
* plants add oxygen in day with photosynthesis and use oxygen at night with respiration
* less oxygen present at higher temperature
* CO2 present as byproduct of respiration
* plants use CO2 during photosynthesis but produce CO2 during respiration
* low CO2 causes yellowing of plant leaves and slow growth
* CO2 prescence lowers pH and hardness
* too much CO2 harms fish
* Co2 can be added using CO2 system

Nitrogen cycle
* fish waste, uneaten food, dead plants or fish broken down into ammonia
* ammonium is present if pH<7 and is not toxic; ammonia present if pH>7 and is highly toxic
* levels of ammonia >2ppm very dangerous; rises by third day
* nitrosomonas bacteria grow which convert ammonia into nitrite, also highly toxic
* nitrite can be lethal at 1 mg/L; rises by end of first week
* nitrobacter bacteria convert nitrites to nitrates; not highly toxic at low levels
* partial water changes keep nitrate levels at safe range
* test for ammonia on day three, continue until reaches zero
* signs of fish distress: rapid breathing, clamped fins, erratic swimming, hanging at surface for air
* ammonia reduced quickly by chemicals like "ammo-lock"
* test for nitrites on day 7, continue until reaches zero
* if nitrate levels are high perform 25-50% water change
* during cycling, don't add fish, change filter media (bacteria grow there), overfeed fish, or alter pH (unless serious problem, as bacteria will be disturbed)
* changing water will slow bacteria growth but also lower ammonia and nitrite levels
* testing ammonia: if at >2ppm, or fish show signs of distress, perform 50% water change, chemically neutralize ammonia, lower pH below 7, withhold feedings
* if ammonia at 1-2ppm, perform 25-50% water change, reduce feedings by half, watch fish for distress
* if ammonia at .25-1ppm, perform 25% water change, reduce feedings by half
* ammonia below .25ppm good.
* testing nitrite: if at >1ppm or fish distressed, perform 50% water change, withhold feedings
* if nitrite at .5-1ppm, perform 25-50% water change, reduce feedings by half, add .5oz salt per 1 gall water, increase aeration
* if nitrite at .1-.5ppm, perform 25% water change, reduce feedings by half
* nitrite below .1ppm good
* water changes are the only way to reduce nitrites
* bacteria can die at pH below 5.5

Fish species

Dwarf Puffer
Care difficulty: 2/5
Size: 2.5cm
pH: 6.5-8.3 (not strict)
Temperature: 24-28C,
Hardness: 5-20dH
Lifespan: years
Peacefulness: 2/5 (fin nippers, eat snails and shrimp)
Tank size: >=5gall per fish recommended
Tank setup: Like to have many plants and hiding places
Compatability: susceptible to being eaten by larger fish, might nip at smaller fish. Cooperate with Otocinclus but not many other fish
Diet: picky, will accept frozen bloodworms, snails, live blackworms, shrimp
Tank region: middle
Nitrates: requires 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, <20ppm nitrate, <10ppm nitrate optimal
Gender ratio: 1 male to 2-3 females recommended if genders mixed
Breeding: doesn't happen often
Schooling: not necessary

Cherry Shrimp X
Care difficulty: 1/5
Size: 3cm
pH: 7-8 (not strict)
Temperature: 15-28C,
Hardness: 3-15dH
Lifespan: 1-2yr
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=1gall recommended, many can live per gall
Tank setup: prefer plants and algae presence
Compatability: cannot live with big or aggressive fish
Diet: algae, flake. may need calcium supplement
Tank region: bottom
Nitrates: requires nitrates <=25mg/L (25ppm)
Gender ratio: not important
Breeding: easy to breed, young might be eaten by other fish
Schooling: not necessary
Comments: sensitive to metal in water

Inca Snail X
Care difficulty: 1/5
Size: 5cm
pH: 7-8.5
Temperature: 18-27C
Hardness: 8->20dH
Lifespan: 1-6yr
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=5gall recommended
Tank setup: like algae, hiding places
Compatability: cannot coexist with loaches, aggressive fish may nip at them
Diet: algae, algae wafers, calcium supplements recommended
Tank region: surfaces
Nitrates: unimportant
Gender ratio: unimportant
Breeding: will breed easily
Schooling: unimportant
Comments: sensitive to metal in water

Guppy X
Care difficulty: 1/5
Size: 5cm
pH: 7-8.5
Temperature: 20-29C
Hardness: 8-20dH
Lifespan: 3-5yr
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=10gall recommended
Tank setup: prefer plants presence
Compatability: often a target for fin nippers
Diet: flake, freeze-dried, live foods; variety optimal
Tank region: middle to top
Nitrates: Don't thrive while tank is cycling
Gender ratio: 2-3 females per male recommended if genders mixed
Breeding: Breed very prolifically every 5 weeks, fry subject to being eaten
Schooling: not necessary

Platy X
Care difficulty: 1/5
Size: 6cm
pH: 7-8.5
Temperature: 18-26C
Hardness: 8-25dH
Lifespan: 2-3yr
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=10gall recommended
Tank setup: like hiding spots
Compatability: all
Diet: flake, granular, frozen, live
Tank region: 
Nitrates: not important
Gender ratio: 1M:2-3F recommended if genders mixed
Breeding: breed very easily every 4-6 weeks, fry may be eaten
Schooling: not necessary

Neon Tetra X
Care difficulty: 2/5
Size: 4cm
pH: 5-7.5
Temperature: 20-26C
Hardness: 1-12dH
Lifespan: 5-8yrs
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=10gall recommended
Tank setup: like plants in tank
Compatability: avoid keeping with fish large enough to eat them
Diet: flake, live, freeze dried
Tank region: middle to bottom
Nitrates: don't tolerate nitrates well
Gender ratio: unimportant
Breeding: difficult
Schooling: like to school; keep at least 6

Bristlenose Plec
Care difficulty: 2/5
Size: 10-15cm
pH: 5.5-8 (not strict)
Temperature: 20-28C
Hardness: 2-20dH (not strict)
Lifespan: 3-4yr
Peacefulness: 4/5 might be aggressive towards other plecs
Tank size: >=30gall recommended
Tank setup: like algae
Compatability: many
Diet: algae, algae wafer
Tank region: bottom and sides
Nitrates: can cause ammonia spikes
Gender ratio: not important
Breeding: difficult
Schooling: not necessary

Kuhli Loach
Care difficulty: 2/5
Size: 8-11cm
pH: 5.5-7.5
Temperature: 21-30C
Hardness: 1-12dH
Lifespan: 10yr
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=20gall
Tank setup: no sharp objects, like small spaces
Compatability: avoid fish big enough to eat them
Diet: pellets, bloodworms, shrimp
Tank region: bottom
Nitrates: not suitable for tanks still cycling
Gender ratio: not important
Breeding: difficult
Schooling: prefer to be in groups of 3 or more

White Cloud Mountain Minnow X
Care difficulty: 1/5
Size: 4cm
pH: 6-8.5
Temperature: 7-24C
Hardness: 5-25dH
Lifespan: 3-7yr
Peacefulness: 4/5 fast, nippy
Tank size: >=5gall recommended
Tank setup: like vegetation, open swimming areas
Compatability: wide, might bother slower fish
Diet: flake, frozen, freeze dried, live
Tank region: middle, all
Nitrates: hardy
Gender ratio: unimportant
Breeding: easy, fry might be eaten
Schooling: not necessary

Gold Barb
Care difficulty: 1/5
Size: 8cm
pH: 6-8 (not strict)
Temperature: 18-28C
Hardness: 5-25dH (not strict)
Lifespan: 5-7yr
Peacefulness: 4/5
Tank size: >=20gall recommended
Tank setup: will nip at plants
Compatability: might nip at long finned fish
Diet: flake, live, freeze dried
Tank region: middle to bottom
Nitrates: hardy
Gender ratio: not important
Breeding: moderate, eggs and fry might be eaten
Schooling: prefer schools of 5 or more

Cherry Barb X
Care difficulty: 1/5
Size: 5cm
pH: 5.5-8
Temperature: 22-28C
Hardness: 5-25dH
Lifespan: 5-7yr
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=5gall recommended
Tank setup: like hiding places, plants, open swimming space
Compatability: avoid predatory fish
Diet: flake, live, freeze dried, blood worms, shrimp
Tank region: all
Nitrates: hardy
Gender ratio: 2 females to a male recommended
Breeding: moderate, eggs and fry might be eaten
Schooling: prefer schools of 6 or more

Glassfish
Care difficulty: 2/5
Size: 8cm
pH: 6.5-7.5
Temperature: 20-30C
Hardness: 7-19dH
Lifespan: 
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=20gall recommended
Tank setup: 
Compatability: avoid large predators
Diet: flakes and freeze-dried
Tank region: all
Nitrates:
Gender ratio:
Breeding: 
Schooling: prefer groups of 5 or more

Corydoras Catfish X
Care difficulty: 1/5
Size: 6cm
pH: 6-8
Temperature: 21-27C
Hardness: 5-18dH
Lifespan: 3-5yr
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=10gall
Tank setup: 
Compatability: wide
Diet: algae wafers, shrimp pellets
Tank region: bottom
Nitrates:
Gender ratio:
Breeding: difficult
Schooling: prefer to be in schools of 6 or more

Otocinclus catfish
Care difficulty: 3/5
Size: 5cm
pH: 6-7.5
Temperature: 20-26C
Hardness: 6-15dH
Lifespan: 3-7yr
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=20gall
Tank setup: like algae and plants
Compatability: avoid keeping with aggressive or large fish
Diet: algae, algae wafers
Tank region: middle to top
Nitrates: Only add to tanks that have completed the nitrogen cycle, try to keep nitrate <10ppm
Gender ratio:
Breeding: difficult
Schooling: like to school

Zebra Danio X
Care difficulty: 1/5
Size: 6cm
pH: 6-8
Temperature: 18-28C
Hardness: 5-19dH
Lifespan: 5-7yr
Peacefulness: 5/5
Tank size: >=10gall
Compatability: community
Diet: all
Tank region: middle to top
Nitrates: 
Schooling: like to school

Molly
Care difficulty: 2/5
Size: 6cm
pH: 7-8.5
Temperature: 23-27C
Hardness: 10-30dH
Lifespan: 3-5yr
Peacefulness: 3/5 fin nipper, will eat smaller fish
Tank size: >=20gall
Compatability: not great in a community
Diet: all
Tank region: all
Nitrates: 
Schooling: 

Tiger Barb
Care difficulty: 2/5
Size: 7cm
pH: 6-7.5
Temperature: 20-26C
Hardness: 4-20dH
Lifespan: 5yrs
Peacefulness: 2/5 fin nipper
Tank size: >=20gall
Compatability: 
Diet: all
Tank region: middle, all
Nitrates: 
Schooling: need a school

Angelfish
Care difficulty: 2/5
Size: 10cm
pH: 6-7.5
Temperature: 23-29C
Hardness: 5-15
Lifespan: 8-10yrs
Peacefulness: 3/5 might eat smaller fish
Tank size: >=20gall
Compatability: keep away from fin nippers
Diet: all
Tank region: all
Nitrates: 
Schooling: