Rainforest Fishes
(South American and West African cichlids; bettas and gouramis; tetras, barbs, danios, rasboras; etc.)

  • 6.0 to 7.0 PH
  • soft to moderate water
  • 76° to 82°F
  • no salt needed
  • aquascape plants; driftwood; inert rocks (quartz, slate, granite, onyx, etc.), gravel, and sand

African Rift Lake Fishes
(cichlids and other fishes from the rift Lakes)

  • 7.5 to 8.5
  • hard to very hard PH
  • 74° to 80°F
  • Rift Lake salts (if needed to increase hardness and pH)
  • aquascape soluble rocks, gravel, and sand (dolomite, limestone, coral rock, lace rock, tufa rock)

Central American Fishes
(Central American cichlids, livebearers, cave tetras, catfish, etc.)

  • 7.0 to 8.0 moderate to hard
  • 74° to 82°F
  • many species are salt-tolerant
  • aquascape plants; driftwood; all rocks, gravel, and sand (soluble and non-soluble)

Brackish Fishes (monos, scats, some puffers, mollies, gobies)

  • 7.8 to 8.0 ph
  • moderately hard water
  • 74° to 82°F
  • specific gravity 1.001 to 1.012
  • Aquascape salt tolerant plants (anubias, Java Fern,Mangrove) Driftwood; all rocks, gravel, and sand

Marine Fishes (all coral reef fishes)

  • 8.3ph
  • moderately hard water
  • 76° to 84°F
  • specific gravity 1.025
  • Aquascape live rock; macroalgae; soluble rocks, gravel, and sand

All parameters and values are suggested approximate preferences only; wide variability and adaptability exist among species and individuals within each category.