Keeping Some Livebearers

[FishHobbyist1564]

Hi i used to have many livebearers like guppies and mollies and i really enjoyed having them, so i would really like to get them again. But they died because the pH in my tank is lower than neutral, which is ideal for tetras. I would really like to keep my tank neutral or above neutral, since that is ideal for livebearers. What do i do to keep my tank at a higher pH? Also, how do i bring the pH up? I just have one more question too... i get a lot of black live plants in my tank and i do not know how to get rid of them or prevent them from coming. I try to keep my tanks out of direct sunlight, but it still manages to grow. Thank you so much for all of your answers everyone!

 

[theotheragentm]

Stable pH is much more important than "correct" pH levels. Your fish are going to have much more problem dealing with you a pH that swings as you try to adjust it. It shouldn't be the reason why the fish are dying in most cases. Mollies are fish that require brackish water or immaculately clean water, so that may have been the problem you had before.

What do you mean by black plants? What kind of plants are they? Reference Plant Geek if you are not sure. Make sure your plants are truly aquatic plants. Semi-aquatic plants will rot in your tank. The plants that come in tubes at PetCo and PetSmart are not necessarily aquatic.

 

[FishHobbyist1564]

these plants look like they could be black algae, but i dont think they are called that. It is very hard to pick off of the plants in my tank. But im still not sure how to get my pH to above 7.0 and i dont know how to keep it above 7.0. Yhe mollies were actually the fish that survived most of the time. It was the guppies that didnt really live that long.

 

[FishHobbyist1564]

does anyone know how i can bring my pH up and keep it above neutral??? My pH is at about 6.0, so i really need help. "theotheragentm" said that i swung my pH and thats why they died, but i didnt do anything to my pH, i just let it go its own way. But now that i let it go its own way, it is at a bad pH. Thank you for your answers everyone and im sorry if i sound repetitive

 

[theotheragentm]

I did not say that you caused a pH swing. What I said was that if you cause pH swings, you're going to have more problems than keeping a stable pH even if it's not the exact desired pH level. Using products to buffer your pH are going to cause those swings. You should not have swings in pH level if you are using the same source for your water every time. 6.0 is an acceptable range for Guppies. It's lower than what is labeled as ideal to Mollies, but it should be easily adaptable for the fish.

 

[FishHobbyist1564]

oh ok thank you lol yea i get my water from the same source and i do not use anything to buffer the pH... so what could be the reason that every livebearer i put in the tank dies? THis is so confusing since it has never happened to me before lol.

 

[theotheragentm]

There are always those mysterious deaths, but let's try to rule those out.

What size tank is this? What else is in it? What kind of filter is on it? Have you tested the water for ammonia, nitirites, and nitrates? What are your readings there?

 

[FishHobbyist1564]

my tank is a 20-gallon, with a power filter, fake/plastic plants, thoroughly cleaned gravel, perfect nitrites, ammonia is 0 or maybe just barely .25, pH is extremely low (my test kit only goes as low as 6.0, and that's what it says my tank is), and the nitrates i just found out were really bad (it is 80 or possibly even 160!) . Could this nitrate be causing those algae to come? because my testing kit says that high nitrates can cause algae blooms and algae growth. I hope this helps and i hope we can figure out what i can do to help my fish!

 

[theotheragentm]

High ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates can cause algae bloom. On top of that, they are harmful to fish. This is definitely a problem if not the cause of the fish deaths. Ammonia and nitrites should be at 0 levels as they are toxic to fish in any amounts. Any levels are harmful to fish. Nitrates are generally considered okay under 40 PPM. If you have changed water within a week and you still have those levels, you are looking at an overstocked tank or possibly something that died in the tank that wasn't removed right away. Do a partial water change right away, in the area of 50%. Then do one every other day at 50% until your levels are proper. You might want to consider Java Moss if you have livebearers and want the fry to survive. It provides a place for fry to hide and it's an easy to care for plant and helps clean up the bioload slightly.

 

[FishHobbyist1564]

Thanks ill start doing water changes right away! that must be why i got those black algae things that i was talking about. Thank you and i appreciate all of your help !

 

[corey01]

i agree with getting the java moss. plants are extremely helpful in the aquaria because they help to absorb ammonia and nirtates. either you can cycle your tank or stock it with lots of plants and you can cycle it slowly by doing a "silent cycle "