longterm solutions

[terrorist_124]

they are coming from a neutral pH (7.0).

i don't have a hardness tester.

a have a co2 generator going into my powerhead,a have loads of plants.

i've had the co2 for a day and it's not helped the pH.

should i increase the co2?(i only have a 1 litre bottle running ATM)

is "pH down" worth trying?


thanks for all your replies

 

[SarahBravo]

What apistos are you getting? I had a pair of cockatoos in a ph of 8.5, not only did they live but they had babies, who are now growing up fast! I also have agassizis and although they haven't bred yet they are doing fine. I also have 4 borellis in quarantine (they're new) and they seem to be coping okay with 8.5.

I know some apistos are more sensitive than others, but I think the most important things are gradual acclimatisation, and then ph stability. It's better to maintain a constant ph which is higher than optimum than get a lower ph which then fluctuates.

I do add blackwater extract to my apisto tanks, doesn't really do anything to my ph but they seem to like whatever's in it!

HTH

Sarah

 

[Briarmoor]

What about a partial change with RO water? If you were willing to keep up with doing that so the fish weren't subjected to fluctuations?

I lost 3 neons and the LFS guy (not the place I bought the fish, the place I should have bought the fish ) said it could have been high pH because my tap was about 7.8. I did use a pH decreaser and everyone here said stop it! so I don't want to do that again. The level did come down to 7.2 and has stayed there for about a week. I am still mid-cycle, and I am reading and hearing that can affect pH fluctuations.

I need to do a 50% change today because my nitrites are high (really worrying me, but fish are not looking too stressed yet) and wonder if putting back in that much tap will jump the pH up and kill more neons. They are doing so well right now, great color, growing, eating good, and seem happy. Would a gallon of RO be okay to use in part of the change? More than a gallon? I am willing to do this and keep doing it if the fishies will be happy.

Pam in TN

10 gallon - 1 Gold gourami (young), 5 neons (growing), 3 corys (little), 1 otto (little). All been through hell with new tank owner

55 gallon - not cycled, nothing in it, future home of "Salami Gourami"