Cockatoos and PH

[nc_nutcase]

After reading about FoundMoney’s issues with his Cockatoo aquarium I’m trying to address some concerns before any mishaps or casualties occur. His PH fluctuated between water changes and this was a possible cause of deaths. So my thoughts are…

My tap water’s PH is 6.2; due to the substrate in my Cockatoo aquarium the PH is 6.8. I just did a water change (25%) and the PH dropped to around 6.4. Currently there are only guppies in the aquarium (Cockatoos due in next week).

I have a small bottle of PH Up, but have not used it at all. Would it be wise to add a few drops (I will experiment to find the right amount) of PH Up to the de-chlorinated water prior to adding it to the tank water? The reason is to bring the new water to the same PH level (6.8) as the aquarium water to avoid putting the Cockatoos through a flux in PH.

Any other thoughts on keeping a tank stable for Cockatoos would be appreciated as this will be my first shot at dwarf cichlids and I’m pretty excited about it.

 

[pnyklr3]

DO NOT add any pH up or down to your tank. As any one here will tell you, a stable pH is better than a high/low one. I can't really see .4 hurting you or your cockatoos at all. If you are worried (as was I when switching over to RO), just add the water for changes slowly into the tank....and by slowly I mean a gallon every 5-10 minutes. It may seem extreme, but when you go through hoops to get a particular fish, you are better safe than sorry!

Cockatoos will live happily in hgih pH, but they would "prefer" it to be lower. My local pH is almost 9, and that is what my breeder had them in. The only problems she had because of a high pH was a horrible sex ration with her fry.

IMO, leave the pH up out of the picture, and just take your time adding the water when doing water changes.

EDIT: By the way, when are these beauties arriving?

 

[nc_nutcase]

Scheduled to arrive later this week...

a stable pH is better than a high/low one

It is because of this 'common knowledge' that I was concerned. The aquarium balances it's 'natural' PH to 6.8 . Because of the low PH of my tap water I started experimenting with items that will raise my PH. Then it dawned on me... water change day will now also be PH fluctuation day. I tested the PH again today and it is back to 6.8 . The reason I considered the PH Up is to bring the de-chlorinated tap water to the same level as the aquarium.

So... sheeesh... I'm tryin to figure out ways to speed up water changes and yer slowin it down

 

[pnyklr3]

Typical woman, always slowing things down and making them more difficult! When I was a complete newbie (waaaaay before I'd found this site) I was urged to use pH down because of my very high tap water. It brought the ph down to 7 for about an hour or 2 before it swung back up again (quickly). This is what is causing my hesitation. Also, cockatoos don't tolerate medication in the water, so I'm not sure how they will do with ph Up in it. I dunno I'm not sure what your water change schedule will be like, but frequent small changes (5%) would be the best route to maintaining a pH the is mostly stable.

Let me know what you think.

 

[nc_nutcase]

Of all current suggestions/ideas considered, more frequent smaller water changes sounds the closest to ideal.

A four Gallon water change will only take a matter of minutes, and doing this 3 times a week sounds painless.

 

[FoundMoney]

I'm not sure it was pH that killed my cockatoos. The pH fluctiation between water changes shouldn't have been enough to kill them, especially since it was fine for my agassizis, that are just as sensitive.

I just think it was bad stock from the lfs. In my last experience, when I brought a pair of cockatoos, my agassizis died that had been seemingly healthly and robust for three weeks. The male cockatoo also died and the two females that are left are completely stressed. One of them seems to be coming around, but my original one, with the bad eye, I haven't seen all day, and she seemed to have trouble controlling her swimming yesterday.

 

[lucky62]

I'm not sure it was pH that killed my cockatoos. The pH fluctiation between water changes shouldn't have been enough to kill them, especially since it was fine for my agassizis, that are just as sensitive.

I just think it was bad stock from the lfs. In my last experience, when I brought a pair of cockatoos, my agassizis died that had been seemingly healthly and robust for three weeks. The male cockatoo also died and the two females that are left are completely stressed. One of them seems to be coming around, but my original one, with the bad eye, I haven't seen all day, and she seemed to have trouble controlling her swimming yesterday.

Man , Found money , you can't catch a break , sorry .

nc ,

I would agree unless your tap water is way off , I would not add anything but tap water conditioner .

Maybe you could check out a water softening unit at lowes or the home depot , and mix it with your tap water for the changes .

I do several water changes a week sometimes myself as well.

My tap water comes out 7.0 , I do nothing but condition it and my fish seem fine .

I even have one female nesting right now , actually she's been moving back an forth between a coconut shell and a clay pot , so she'll probably be out herding in a few days, with all the other fish in there she has her work cut out for her .

In time I'll set up some kind of breeding tank for them , unless they can pull off what my badis badis did , My tank is loaded with badis babies that have made it The father has been breeding with his female offspring as well , the hits just keep on coming .

 

[pnyklr3]

I was told that water softening units were not what you would want/need to soften the water in the tank.

 

[lucky62]

I was told that water softening units were not what you would want/need to soften the water in the tank.

It would be a unit that that is intended [though not necessarily ]to connect at the water supply and not at a fish tank .
Never needed to soften my water [ or lower the Ph] , just thought it might be a better idea than adding chemicals [ maybe less expensive], and only a suggestion for consideration , and not a recommendation

 

[pnyklr3]

It may have been CFC who told me about it (but I could be wrong), that the water softeneers for your home do not create the same kind of "soft water" that I was looking for. He reccommended switching to RO water, and adding in supplements and a buffer (both made by KENT).

Now that I think of it, my brine tank only helps a "filter" to remove thing from my water, and doesn't put any of the solar salt into the water. I think I might check the pH and hardness of the tap water that comes from the soft water pipes, and what comes from the utiliy sink...