Updated Pics of the Apistos!

[Lively]

So, I've had them a month now... still having issues with getting the pH down. But, the water is definately tea colored - I like the look but makes for a much harder pic! Doesn't help there is a sliding glass door across from the tank... great for the plants in there - not so good for the camera. Had to edit out reflections :-(

So, some before and after pics for you guys.

Taken today

I like this one... Dive! Dive!

Pic of the boy last month

The Girl(s) Taken today

And, last month

The more colorful one from last month

 

[iamzrad]

Apisto's are looking good!

I use this seachem product called, "SA/CA trace elements". It gets the water soft, pH down a bit and enhances the color and promotes breeding.

 

[Lively]

Thanks, I'm happy with how they are looking.

Something is seriously buffering the tank, still. I took all the "real" rock out, except the substrate gravel (I hate gravel but it was all I had at the time) Water changes with rainwater - trying to lower slowly for the fishies sake! I hate to do it, but I think the gravel is going to come out this weekend. Man, do I hate changing substrate.

 

[crazyclowntang]

nice looking apistos lively

 

[iamzrad]

I'm surprised the driftwood isn't helping...

 

[Lively]

I've done everything to get it down, like I said the water is very much tea colored now. I should get some muratic acid to test the gravel, but at this point there doesn't seem to be a point since it is the only possible source of the buffer. I should bag it and bring it to the meeting and sell it as the buffering agent from he**!

TY Crazy - I'm really pleased with how they've come along!

 

[Spine]

Lively,
Your fish look great. I got mine to spawn in tap water(ph7.2). Just keep feeding them well and do your water changes they'll come around.

 

[YSS]

Very nice looking apistos. I had a nice looking pair in my discus tank, but when I upgraded from 90G to 265G, the fish didn't survive the move. Don't know why since I set everything up the same way. I set up the 265, move the fish from 90, but the apistos never adjusted. Anyhow, where did you get them? I am still looking for a few pairs of apistos and GBR for my tank, but can't seem to find good quality stock.

 

[DiscusnAfricans]

Amazon basement and frybabies (both sponsors of this group) both have good selections to choose from. I know some LFS in MD that carry some, but you'd get better quality through sponsors of our site.

 

[Jumbie]

Stacy these are some great pics...I love apistos and your fish look nice and healthy! I could get mine to breed as easy as Kevin did, I had to drop the PH and it took me a while to get the right combo for a successful PH range. FYI Drift wood and RAIN WATER helped a lot for me... also I have a "Pillow Softener" that you could try to use and see if it could help with dropping the PH. Again nice pics and great looking fish.

 

[Lively]

Thanks everyone!

I got the quad at auction at May's meeting. There was a pair of BGR's (proven breeders) at the last auction - if I had the tank space I would have given who ever won them a run for his money!

Josh - I've been doing all that! I didn't have a way to collect rain water so I shelled out the bucks to put bottled water in the tank - it tested at 6.0 - but nothing has brought the water below 7 and it keeps going back up between 7.2-7.6.

I added blackwater to the tank - all that did was make it impossible to see the fish - no change. I think that until I find the cause it's going to be a lost cause! The pH was much lower when I had it bare bottom. It has to be the gravel.