High Ph - Really A Problem?

[LineDropper]

I'm very new to this hobby... I currently have 3 tanks in the cycling process (week 3) and already I've had a few challenges. A red platty had fin rot (I suspect she had it when I bought her because she did not eat when I brought her home). Another red platty got some type of fungus which is now going away.

Anyway - I would like some advice on PH. My tap water comes out at about 7.6. After 3 weeks of routine water changes all three tanks got into the very low 8 range. I have to accept the fact that I'm probably over-feeding so I cut back on that. Well the other day the fish in one of my 10 gallons started acting nuts. 2 zebra danios who are normally all over the place, stopped swimming around and chilled out near the bottom. The other fish in the tank was a red platty and she developed some white fungus. I broke down and added a product that reduces PH. I also did a regular 10% water change. In like 30 minutes, the fish were acting normal.....

Some posts I read say that fish will adapt to PH - my question is - should I follow the PH guidelines per type of fish that I read in books/magazines *or* should I try to adapt them to the PH level in my tap water???

If you recommend chemically altering the PH, what products do you recommend?

THANKS!

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Don't use chemicals to adjust the pH...they will cause the pH to swing which is worse for your fish than a pH different from their "recommend range". The only long term difference is that soft water fish may not breed or be as colorful in hard water.

 

[rdd1952]

There are a couple things you need to look at. Have you had the KH and GH of your water tested? If not, take a sample to the fish store. They should be able to do it for you. If your buffering capacity is high which it probably is, then there will be very little you can do to lower the pH. Driftwood/bogwood and peat will help a little but not much if the KH is high.

Also, do you have anything in your tanks that could be raising the pH. It's unusual for the pH to go up unless there is something in the tank such as rocks or even the gravel that are raising it. If you have rocks, you can do the vinegar test on them. Simply put a couple drops of vinegar on them. If they fizz, then they will raise you pH.

Having said all that, what you have read is true. Most fish will adapt to a pH that is out of their optimal range as long as it's stable. I would stop using the pH adjusters immediately as they will put the pH in a constant up and down swing. Platys should be right at home in the upper 7s and low 8s anyway as they prefer alkaline water so you really don't need to worry at all.

There is one thing that you should be concerned about though. You mentioned that your tanks were cycling. Ammonia becomes more toxic as the pH rises so even a small amount of ammonia with a pH in the low 8s is very toxic. Hopefully, you are testing the water daily and making partial water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite as low as possible. I would try to make sure neither ever gets over .25 ppm, especially ammonia in water with a pH that high.

 

[Tobigara]

PH is a major concern for me right now too. Tho i'm in the opposite end of the spectrum. my ph keeps going down it's at 6.0 now. i'd like to level it off at a constant 6.8 - 7.2. somewhere in between but steady. i've read that i can use crushed coral or i believe limestone rocks but if possible i'd like to learn more before i jump into any decision. my tank is cycled and i do regular 20 - 30% water changes if that will help any.

i don't mean to steel any thunder from your own ph problems linedropper. i was just kinda hoping we could turn this into a general ph problem topic.

 

[rdd1952]

Adding a little crushed coral to the filter or even hanging a filter pack with some in it in the tank will both work. If usually doesn't take much. Also something like tufa rock wil work too. It's mainly just a matter of trial and error. Just start with a little and work up.

 

[Tobigara]

thanks a bunch! that's pretty much what i read but i needed to here it from someplace other than a shop. BTW i'd like to add that i have learned more from this site than every other book/website combined. again thanks

 

[rdd1952]

You're very welcome. There is a lot of useful information on this site. One of the biggest problems with books is that a lot has changed in fishkeeping in the last 10 to 15 years and too many of the books out there pre-date that time so they don't mention much about testing your water and cycling the tank.