New Honey Gourami

GouramiGurl23

Hello! (I am new to the world of tropical fish, so I may not know all these special terms and things) I have recently started my tropical aquarium. My temp is 72 degrees farenheight, my ph is 6.8, and I have hard water. I have six white clouds, 2 Julii Corydoras, 5 zebra danios, One leopard Danio,( i know, she should have more of her kind but we didnt find out she was a leopard till we got home) and one Honey Gourami. They all appear to be doing well, bright color, active, and total pigs. But the danios seem to be getting the food before my Honey Gourami, and when I directly drop the food in front of her, she either doesn't eat it or another fish does. Also, I read that they like soft water and would like to figure out how to do that... Please help!

Three6s

I would like to see pics of the Honey Gourami. My Gouramis are kinda picky eating too. Every couple days they tend to know it's time to eat & go to it.

GouramiGurl23

In my tropical tank I have hard water. I have read that danios, coreys, and Honey Gourami like hardwater... I don't want my fish to die! Everything else matches up, ( temp, Ph, etc.) but if this is going to be a problem, can someone give me a solution? I don't know how to soften water or where to buy this stuff

Three6s

You can buy RO water at fish stores. That can help you get softer water I believe.

GouramiGurl23

@Three6s: I am still trying to figure this thing out...pics to come as soon as I can. Also, at the store she was hiding in a corner not really moving, and had a stress stripe. I couldn't bear to leave her, but now she's thriving. I just don't know why she won't eat...

GouramiGurl23

Thanks again! I'll pick some up the next time I'm out.

Byron

There are two distinct issues here.

First, tankmates. I am always glad when a member posts "proof" of what I (and others) advise, so I'm glad you started this thread. Gourami are sedate fish, and should not be combined with boisterous or active swimmers. All danio (along with barbs, and some of the tetra) are active; they love to swim fast and furious. And such fish are usually aggressive feeders too; which doesn't mean aggressive as in biting other fish, but when food is present these active fish will be sure they get what they want. Leaving the poor quiet gourami out. This is why rasbora, the quieter characins, etc. make better tankmates for gourami. There is not much you can do about the feeding habits of fish.

On the issue of the water hardness, can you give us the number for the GH? You can find this out from the municipal water supply people, they likely have a website. Without knowing the GH it is impossible to suggest if any adjustment should be made. I am going to suggest it likely does not, if your pH is 6.8, as usually the GH will not be too high, though there are always exceptions. I doubt this is an issue here, but I need the number to be sure. And we must deal with this before you start fiddling with RO water. GH, KH and pH are closely connected, and water chemistry is quite involved [you can read more in my article in the Freshwater Articles section on Water Hardness and pH...]; adding RO for instance is going to alter the GH, KH and pH, and it could be significant.

Byron.