dgh 31 & dkh 29: what are my options?

[drukus]

I am starting a 29 gallon freshwater planted tank. The well water here is dGH = 31 and dKH = 29 (is on the high side and the amonia/nitrate etc. are nil). We are on a water softner but the numbers above are based on the straight well water.

What I want to know is what are my options for plants and livestock? From research I gather that most hardy freshwater plants will be fine, however, I would like recommendations on plants that are easy to grow and easy to get in Ottawa. As well, I have read that consistency is the most important thing. However, with such extreme hardness, I fear that limits my livestock choices. I would keep Malawi Cichlids, but I read they like to destroy plants and they all need a bigger aquarium (min. 55 gallon).

If anyone has any advice or experience (I do not want to alter my water either chemically or with equipment) I would greatly appreciated it.

Thanks.

[touchofsky]

I am on well water, also, and my reading are around dGH 17 and dKH 14, so obviously lower than yours, however, I can give you an idea of what I have had success growing and keeping in my water.  I currently  have 8 tanks with various plants, fish, lighting, substrates and fertilizing routines.

[drukus]

That is great to hear. I have a 29 gallon (30x12x18) and I would like to setup a community tank. What stocking options have done the best for you?

I think when I can afford to get a bigger setup I would like to do a rift lake setup, but for now I have the 29g.

[touchofsky]

Here are a few fish that I have had good luck with:

The fish below have been kept in a cool water tank, at room temperature which in winter in my 38 gallon tank runs around 68 f.

corydoras - I have had peppered cories (paleatus) live 14 years, and they are cute, too.  I have also kept bronze cories  (aeneus) in shoals along with the peppered cories. These cories like cooler water and can be kept in tanks at room temperature.  You have to make sure that they get enough food since they feed at the bottom of the tank.  Sinking pellets dropped in at night help to make sure they are well fed.

danios - lots of different varieties and the long finned ones have been as tough for me as the short finned varieties.  I have some leopard long fins that have developed lovely finnage and colour.  These also can live in tanks at room temperature.

white cloud moutain minnows - another small fish that lives in room temperature water and will breed readily.  The young ones are really attractive with quite a bright neon stripe.

rosy barbs - these are a bit bigger and also come in short finned and long finned varieties.  They can be kept in a group, with more females than males or as a pair.  They look pretty bland in dealer's tanks, but in the home aquarium they develop a beautiful colour.

cherry barbs - smaller than the above with the males turning a bright red.  They like to be kept in a shoal.

blood fins - another shoaling fish that is very long lived and can do well at room temperature.  They develop really bright red fins as they mature.

In some of my tanks that I keep a bit warmer (mid-70's f), I have been keeping:

harlequin rasboras - nice, long lived fish that mind their own business. 

tetras - I have also kept many varieties of tetra successfully.  Right now I have neons, black neons, flame, black phantom, yellow phantom & lemon tetras.

In slightly warmer water, I am keeping angelfish (around 80 f.)

I also keep bristlenose catfish (ancistrus) in all my tanks.  I also have done well with otocinclus, Amano shrimp and cherry shrimp.  Otos should only be added to well cycled tanks with a bit of algae.  I also supplement all of my bottom feeders with vegetables, and the otos especially like cucumber.

As for plants, the easiest and most readily available, are:  Cryptocornes (lots of different varieties with varying colours from green to bronze), Echinodorus (Amazon swords are particularly easy and I also like the small varieties like tenellus), Java ferns, red and green tiger lotus (these are really attractive and add a nice shot of colour), Hygrophilia polysperma, Anubias (small types like nana or larger ones such as coffeefolia).  Java ferns and Anubias should be attached to either wood or rocks and not planted in the substrate.  Another plant I have had good luck with is Ammania gracilis.  Most of these plants will do well with fairly low lighting.

I hope this gives you a few ideas.  Have you made any decisions about the type of lighting, substrate, etc. that you want to use?
 

[exv152]

I'd stick to african cichlids, and there are some plants that can be kept with africans, the more bitter tasting plants like anubias, and they grow well on stones and wood. But with water that hard it's best to stick with fish that would do well without having to mess with water chemistry too much. Besides, there are many african cichlid options, like malawi, tanganyikan, and lake victorian, with literally hundreds of species and amazing colours.

[Jeff1192]

I'm in Cumberland as well and have almost the same numbers for my water. I have no problem with most plants. It will take some experimenting but I've found that very fine leaved plants (ie: rotalla vietnam) defintiely don't do well. If the description says it prefers soft water it will not work in your water. But I have tried LOTS of plants and the majority have worked.

As for livestock I've tried lots of fish and had success with kribs, angels, a couple different rasbora species, tetras, dwarf gouramis, german blue rams, cories, plecos, cherry shrimp, amano shrimp, CPDs, I'm sure I'm missing some....but most fish I've tried have done just fine.

If you're going to dose with the EI method don't get a UV sterilizer, your water will cloud every time you dose trace elements. I just sold my UV sterilizer for this very reason.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

[drukus]

This is really helpful everyone. So far I have an Aquaclear 300 (70), T5HO lighting, Eco-complete substrate for the base and I am thinking of using sand on top.

I have a few rocks but no driftwood yet (unfortunately I will not be able to make the giant auction so I have been looking used).

exv152 - I agree that Africans seem the way to go, but 29g really limits my choices. Over the last few days I have been researching African shell dwellers, but they seem to be pricey and not easily available in Canada Other than that, they seem really cool.

At this point, based on your feedback, I may go with a setup focusing on livestock that is more reasonably available (tetras, killi etc.).

[exv152]

This is really helpful everyone. So far I have an Aquaclear 300 (70), T5HO lighting, Eco-complete substrate for the base and I am thinking of using sand on top.

I have a few rocks but no driftwood yet (unfortunately I will not be able to make the giant auction so I have been looking used).

exv152 - I agree that Africans seem the way to go, but 29g really limits my choices. Over the last few days I have been researching African shell dwellers, but they seem to be pricey and not easily available in Canada Other than that, they seem really cool.

At this point, based on your feedback, I may go with a setup focusing on livestock that is more reasonably available (tetras, killi etc.).

You're right, a 29g limits your stocking options with africans as well because they need more space than your average fish, so you'd be limited to a smaller community in terms of numbers. But like others have said, many fish today are captive bred in harder water parameters, so it shouldn't be an issue keeping most fish in that water if you acclimate them slowly. What are the specs on your lighting in terms of watts and how many bulbs, spectrum?

[drukus]

Right now I have 1 24w T5 (12,000K I think), there is room for 1 more.

[exv152]

Right now I have 1 24w T5 (12,000K I think), there is room for 1 more.

For a planted low tech plant you want to aim for something around 50 watts of lighting total, and something more in the range of 6700k. The 12000 emits good colours for a reef setup which is more in the blue colour realm. 6500-6700k is more inline with the green range plants look better in.

[drukus]

Do you think 12,000K will suffice for a few weeks until I can get a more appropriate bulb?

[exv152]

Do you think 12,000K will suffice for a few weeks until I can get a more appropriate bulb?

It might if you add some of the more hardy plant species, but you'll definitely need a second bulb at some point soon just to be at the min low tech planted tank requirement of 1.5 to 2 watts per gallon.

[touchofsky]

I have 2 x 24 watt T5HO on a 29 gallon tank, and I have had to diffuse the light somewhat.  The fixture is sitting right on the rim of the tank, with a glass canopy.  I have put another piece of glass with some frosting on it, to diffuse the light.  In that fixture there is a 12000 k bulb and a roseate bulb.  I currently have Amazon swords (Echinodorus amazonicus), Rotala indica, Hygrophila polysperma, Cryptocorne balansae, Bacopa caroliniana (being eaten by the angelfish lol), Aponogeton crispus (flowering at the moment), Cryptocorne wendtii (I think), and a red Nymphaea.  There is also another narrow leaved Hygrophila stricta.

[Lurch1]

exv152 - I agree that Africans seem the way to go, but 29g really limits my choices. Over the last few days I have been researching African shell dwellers, but they seem to be pricey and not easily available in Canada Other than that, they seem really cool.

At this point, based on your feedback, I may go with a setup focusing on livestock that is more reasonably available (tetras, killi etc.).

I have a 29 gal with ps. saulosis and yellow labs. In total there are 2 male saulosis 9 females and a pair of yellow labs. They are all very happy. I also have liquid rock coming from my well.