South American Species

WATER: pH 6.8-7.1, 3-8 dH, 79-84 F (26-29 C)

TANK: The tank should be furnished with driftwood and open swimming areas. Use a fine gravel, or preferably, clay. Oxbow lakes typically have floating plants and reeds near the shoreline.

PLANTS: Sword plants, Water Lettuce, Duckweed, Riccia, Vallisneria

FISH: Oscars, Acaras, Eartheaters, Angelfish, Headstanders, Piranhas, Hatchetfish, Tetras, Pimelodids, Doradids, Loricarids, Corydoras

WATER: pH 6.9-7.3, 5-12 dH, 75-82 F (24-28 C)

TANK:The tank should have good filtration which keeps the water clear and creates a moderate current. The lighting should be bright and plant life should be rich. A substrate of fine gravel is suggested, as are a few pieces of wood. Aerate the tank well.

PLANTS: Sword plants, Ceratophyllum, Cabomba, Lemma, Limnobium, Vallisneria

FISH: Loricarids, Corydoras, Uaru, Mesonauta, Hyphessobrycon.

WATER: pH 5.5-6.5, 0-4 dH, 79-84 F (26-29 C)

TANK: Use fine gravel, sand, or clay for a substrate. Ideally, woody material should be the most prominent decoration in the tank. Use scattered Amazon swords and reedy plants like Vallisneria. Lighting should be subdued and filter outflows placed to create little current.

PLANTS: Sword plants, Vallisneria

FISH:Discus, Angelfish, Dwarf Cichlids, Tetras [Hemigrammus, Hyphessobrycon, Boehlkea, and Thayeria], Hatchetfish, Corydoras, Pimelodids, Loricarids.

WATER: pH: 4.5-6.5, 0-4 dH, 81-86 F (27-30 C)

TANK: Furnish the tank with bog wood and a dark, fine gravel substrate. There can be subdued lighting and still water. Peat filtration is recommended.

PLANTS: Sword plants, Heteranthera, Ceratophyllum, Vallisneria, Cabomba

FISH: Discus, Angelfish, Dwarf Cichlids, Tetras, Hatchetfish, Corydoras, Farlowella, Loricarids.