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Hello everyone!
So, I’m pretty new to the parosphromenus hobby and I recently got started with two pairs of P. Alfredi. Unfortunately both of the females have no died and I am confused as to what happened? My ammonia and nitrate levels are fine. The only thing that has been bothering me is that I can’t seem to drop my pH below 6.0? it usually hovers around 6.2 are there any tips to drive it down any lower? Also I’m feeling pretty bad right now because I was going to try to breed them and now that doesn’t look like it will be possible given hat I only have the two males 🙁 . I’m based out of California but is there anyone in the US that breeds Alfredi specifically? Anyway looking forward to hearing from you all
Hello malikmoloch
Welcome to the forum. I just approved your message, from now on it will be visible immidiately.I am sorry to hear about your loss of females, – to me it does not seem that the reason should be the ph – even 6.2 would not have this effect.
Unless the ph is behaving very unstable, or if you have just got the fish and they came from very different water quality, – or if the adjusting time has been too low ?Otherwise, it would be possible also for paros to live in 6.2 ph.
There are many methods of bringing down ph – I use oak extract, that is very easy, and it works well for me.
But there are many factors involved also, – in bringing down ph, but also in keeping it down. Here its also a matter of what other things you have in the tank, perhaps something drives the ph up again .. substrate, stones, whatever …
Perhaps you could tell us more about the set up …
I actually moved your post to American section, – perhaps someone will respond with regards to the alfredi question.
Hello everyone and welcome malikmoloch,
Helene is very right here, more informamation on water quality could help. My experience with people starting blackwater acidic tanks is that many are scared of low TDS and so low pH. So they set up the parameters to what they think are low but still reasonable levels. Sadly, such conditions are the most unstable one could imagine and you end up many possible sudden changes. You name it: Different forms of nitrogen going back and forth quickly, high bacterial load, unstable pH itself. So yes, in stable tank paros could live in pH around 6, but if you are setting up a new tank and you are not experienced balckwater aquarist, aim for pH bellow 6 and very low TDS (15-30) with plenty of humic acids and leaf or alder cone extract that will stain it like a tea. Alder cones are great stuff to lower pH quickly and keep it stable + they release great antibacterial substances and you will see how paros love such water. Make sure you have zero alkalinity (“carbonate hardness” as they wrongly call it) and start with very soft water. The thing is that the “reasonable compromise” here is the worst way to go imo. I hope that helps and cheer up for next and better try 🙂
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