Fish Dying - Could It Be Ph?

[sheree]

Over the past month or so, I've lost a fish practically every week in my 180l community tank filled with loachs, various small tetras (flame, neons, x-ray) , harlequins, 2xrainbows, otos, cories and a gold gourami. I intially started with fake plants and then converted to live plants about 8 months ago. All other water perimeters have (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) have stayed the same. I do weekly 20-25% water changes, with a larger 40-50% water change/decor clean every 5-6 weeks. Filter maintenance is done as per manufacture/lfs instructions. I've had the odd few die but not on a regular occurance like this. Since first starting the tank 18 months ago my PH has lowered over time from 7.8 to 6.0. Is this normal in a mature tank?? or is it old age killing the fish? is the lower PH not suiting some of them?

 

[hogan53]

hello there,
have you planted the aquarium fully.
i would try and get your PH up to about 6.8-7.0, the fish are suffering, the lower the PH the less Qxygen it will hold what is your temperature.You wil need to monitor the changes as the fish could suffer PH shock.

 

[WILDER]

What do you have in the tank substrate and ornaments.
Need to look at your water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate.

 

[vinylman]

When you say you clean your filter as per the manufacturer/LFS instructions, what exactly do they tell you?. All you need to do with filter media is squeeze it out in old tank water every couple of weeks - NEVER replace it every month, that's just to keep you buying, and it gets rid of all the bacteria that you need to keep your fish healthy. Filter media can be used until it's just about falling apart. When you eventually do need to replace the media, do it gradually, never all at once.