Warm Water Fish?

Kaitlin · 02-16-2013, 08:38 PM

I'm looking for stocking suggestions for a 7 gallon freshwater planted tank with low pH and higher temperatures. It's consistently at 6.5 pH and 82F (+/-1 degree).

I know it's a bit warm, but the only heaters that would fit in my tank can't be set to a specific temperature. I live in Minnesota, so even though my apartment is generally 70-75 degrees, I don't want to risk being gone all day and coming home to a very cold apartment and dead fish. So, low 80s it is.

The options I'm looking at are:

5 Neon Tetras (they like low pH, but the temp may be a bit high?)
4-5 Fancy Guppies
3 Female Bettas (Bettas are perfect for low pH and high temps, but I've had so many Bettas - I'd like to try something new)
Or a Platy or Dwarf Gourami

These would be the only fish in the tank (besides four little ghost shrimp).

Thoughts on these or suggestions for other fish? Thanks!

plantedtankfan · 02-16-2013, 09:06 PM

6 Cardinal tetras would look great. They like the low pH and will be fine in the higher temp. If you are willing to do the water change and over filter, you could add 3-4 dwarf cory. Your tank will be stock with those.

okapizebra · 02-17-2013, 01:15 PM

I wouldn't do cardinals. They are too big IMO. I think going with a single male betta would be your best option.

stevenjohn21 · 02-17-2013, 01:19 PM

Don't use the heater, there are plenty of fish that can survive 70-75 degrees .

ggsteve · 02-17-2013, 01:48 PM

I would lose the non-adjustable heater, it is just going to cause problems as the seasons change. No heater and the much-underated white cloud mountain fish that will easily handle temps in the sixties would be a good choice.

**OVT** · 02-17-2013, 09:17 PM

Sparkling gouramies or dwarf putters, but the shrimp will get eaten.

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the.koi.maiden · 02-18-2013, 02:53 AM

Honestly I would lose the preset heater and get white clouds. I've never had a preset heater work longer than a few months for me. They either fry the fish or never heat to where they need to be.

dprais1 · 02-18-2013, 03:47 AM

I love my dwarf puffers..as long as I keep them well fed 2x a day they seem to ignore my shrimp. this is MY experience, others have had issues.

02-16-2013, 08:38 PM	#1
Kaitlin Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 12	Warm Water Fish? I'm looking for stocking suggestions for a 7 gallon freshwater planted tank with low pH and higher temperatures. It's consistently at 6.5 pH and 82F (+/-1 degree). I know it's a bit warm, but the only heaters that would fit in my tank can't be set to a specific temperature. I live in Minnesota, so even though my apartment is generally 70-75 degrees, I don't want to risk being gone all day and coming home to a very cold apartment and dead fish. So, low 80s it is. The options I'm looking at are: 5 Neon Tetras (they like low pH, but the temp may be a bit high?) 4-5 Fancy Guppies 3 Female Bettas (Bettas are perfect for low pH and high temps, but I've had so many Bettas - I'd like to try something new) Or a Platy or Dwarf Gourami These would be the only fish in the tank (besides four little ghost shrimp). Thoughts on these or suggestions for other fish? Thanks!

02-17-2013, 01:19 PM	#4
stevenjohn21 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,005	Don't use the heater, there are plenty of fish that can survive 70-75 degrees . __________________ “We didn’t underestimate them. They were just a lot better than we thought.” -Bobby Robson “Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.” -Gary Linekar "Some people are on the pitch! They think it's all over! It is now, it's four!" -Kenneth Wolstenholme

02-17-2013, 09:17 PM	#6
OVT Carpe Diem (View User Tanks) PTrader: (117/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: SF East Bay Area Posts: 2,377	Re: Warm Water Fish? Sparkling gouramies or dwarf putters, but the shrimp will get eaten. via Droid DNA Tapatalk 2 __________________ Courtesy Integrity * Perseverance * Indominable Spirit * and Self Control* Tenets of TKD

02-18-2013, 02:53 AM	#7
the.koi.maiden Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 25	Honestly I would lose the preset heater and get white clouds. I've never had a preset heater work longer than a few months for me. They either fry the fish or never heat to where they need to be. __________________ -- Izzy Planted tanks: Community \| Betta \| Shrimp Non planted tank: Goldfish Other projects: Koi pond \| Snail bowls \| Moss terrarium

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02-16-2013, 09:06 PM	#2
plantedtankfan Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: US Posts: 92	6 Cardinal tetras would look great. They like the low pH and will be fine in the higher temp. If you are willing to do the water change and over filter, you could add 3-4 dwarf cory. Your tank will be stock with those.

02-17-2013, 01:15 PM	#3
okapizebra Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 106	I wouldn't do cardinals. They are too big IMO. I think going with a single male betta would be your best option.

02-17-2013, 01:48 PM	#5
ggsteve Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: North Central MA Posts: 70	I would lose the non-adjustable heater, it is just going to cause problems as the seasons change. No heater and the much-underated white cloud mountain fish that will easily handle temps in the sixties would be a good choice.

02-18-2013, 03:47 AM	#8
dprais1 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: mt prospect Posts: 478	I love my dwarf puffers..as long as I keep them well fed 2x a day they seem to ignore my shrimp. this is MY experience, others have had issues.