Ideal parameters for Abei?

[ToyotaRKeener]

As far as pH, gH and temp go, what are ideal parameters for my T. Abei? Water comes out of my tap at ~6.5, but I am willing to correct it every water change if it will optimize the health, colors and behaviors of my T. Abei. This will be a planted tank, so naturally the pH will drop over time.

[Pufferpunk]

Check with our Pufferpedia. All your answers are in there.

[Boxermom]

If you are going to adjust the pH, don't do it with chemicals. The best way to raise it is to either use crushed coral as substrate or use some in a bag in the filter. Adjusting with chemicals will cause swings that can be deadly for the fish.

[ToyotaRKeener]

Yeah, I guess I was looking for something a little more specific. Pufferpedia gives a pretty wide range for the pH. Doesn't mention whether they come from hard or soft water. I did a quick search on the Mekong River, but the river has so many different habitats it is hard to really pinpoint the locations these puffers are caught.

[Boxermom]

Most fish, including puffers, can adjust to a wide range of pH and hardness, as long as they are acclimated properly and the water parameters are stable.

[ToyotaRKeener]

Yeah, I was actually thinking of blending some leftover calcite from my GSP tank into the sand of my Abei tank. If I put in a good amount of Calcite, and did several small water changes throughout the week instead of a larger one 1x a week there should be no drastic pH swing. The water should sit at about 7.8 and fairly hard, but I don't want to do it unless these puffers come from and thrive in hard alkaline water.

I get what you guys are getting at though. Puffers tend to migrate alot through their rivers, and are exposed to lots of different parameters(i.e the GSP going from freshwater-> saltwater throughout their lifetime.

Maybe I will just leave it alone, if it will not make any difference in their health and behaviors, there is no reason to make water changes more difficult for me. I already have a brackish tank to mess with, no need to make any of my other tanks a pain.

[Hilly]

My Ph is about 7.5 and my tap water is fairly hard, he does fine.