looking for advice, i love my fish.

[courageous_stumbling]

hello there folks. Could you please give me a little advice cus I love my fish and im scared im not doing it right for them.
Ive had fish for about 7-8 years, since I was about 13. But for my birthday last year my boyfriend bought me a 4 foot tank. Only thing is the water keeps evaporating. I have about 7 fish in it (including a HUGE oscar and silver dollar) and i dont like them having less room. It goes down about 3inches in 2 months then stay like that for about 4 months then goes donw again. I dont like ading more water cus where I stay just now the water is REALLY alkaline (ph 7.5, almost 8) and ive had fish die after adding it, even with ph down stuff.
Point is - i never really change the water cus of this problem and it doesnt affect them other than the water goes down and they get less room.
Im getting a new tank cus we bought a new house together and I want a 5 footer, it will be alot more easy to access and Im gettting an under-gravel filter and proper fitting condensation tray. Should I change the water a certain amount at certain times? Do I actually take water out and put in new water OR just replace water that has evaporated? BTW I keep tank at 26 degrees but in quite a cold room (till we get new house).
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me, I dont really know who to ask and you guys must understand that I love them. Thank you. xxx

 

[Rusty_S]

It won't take long to realise that a lot of the people on this forum love their fish more than anything else in the world and will do anything for them

I think most people do a water change every week (around 25% seems to be the average) but it's different for different people depending on how busy they are etc etc. If your water is terribly alkaline perhaps you should add something in the way of decoration like a large piece of bogwood, this actually leaks a substance that lowers the pH of your water and don't worry if the water goes a bit darker, that's supposed to happen with this stuff.

Also if you're going to do water changes which really are recommended for healthy and happy fish then maybe you could fill a bucket or two with the water you intend to replace the old water with and add the conditioner and something to lower the pH. I'm not sure what yet but someone else may be able to tell you, perhaps even vinegar might do it but I'd double-check this first!

EDIT: Do you have a pH testing kit for your tank cos that'd be useful for testing your prepared water before putting it into your tank.

 

[The-Wolf]

If your water is terribly alkaline perhaps you should add something in the way of decoration like a large piece of bogwood, this actually leaks a substance that lowers the pH of your water and don't worry if the water goes a bit darker, that's supposed to happen with this stuff.

Also if you're going to do water changes which really are recommended for healthy and happy fish then maybe you could fill a bucket or two with the water you intend to replace the old water with and add the conditioner and something to lower the pH. I'm not sure what yet but someone else may be able to tell you, perhaps even vinegar might do it but I'd double-check this first!

EDIT: Do you have a pH testing kit for your tank cos that'd be useful for testing your prepared water before putting it into your tank.

NO VINIGAR, please.
to lower the ph you can put some peat in your filter,
also adding bogwood will in the long term lower the ph.
to get rid of tannin that is in the bogwood boil it for 20 mins then leave to soak overnight.

 

[clutterydrawer]

7.5 isnt *that* alkaline is it? After all, 7 is neutral. although having said that i don't know anything about your fish so they might prefer it acidic. still, i don't see hwy it'd kill them to add it, especially seeing as the tank must have it in already...?

 

[The-Wolf]

It all depends on the fish you have/want.
do research on this forum and on the net.

 

[courageous_stumbling]

ok folks thank you so much, its great to have people who know and understand helping me out here. I do have a ph test kit thing and I do add the ph balance stuff to any water I add. It sound weird I know but when i add te fresh water to the old water it seem to change all together, oh I dunno .
I Have some bogwood in the tank already (oh how the dude *plec*) loves it, I wonder if its having a adverse affect? Ill try taking it out in my new tank. Im going for the beech wood frame with black stones, so I might add some bamboo.
Anyone know a nice cheap place place to get a five foot tank (or bigger)? And am I right to get an undergravel filter? Cus I hate seeing poo lying around the tank beside big stones etc. Seriously though, thank you for replying. Fi xxx

 

[Rusty_S]

I'm not sure but I think the general consensus on undergravel filters is that they're rather outdated and when you clean them you need to rearrange your whole tank and you don't want to be doing that! I recommend getting a different kind

EDIT: You can normally find fish tanks quite cheaply in classified ads in your local newspaper, but if you wanted a new one I'm not sure, it's always best to shop around

 

[clutterydrawer]

I think the bogwood would benefit you if your pH is alkaline, it will lower it. From what I've read, pH down is tricksy stuff that results in odd fluctuations of pH (although bear in mind this is jsut what I#ve heard, I've never used it myself.) I've also heard that undergravel filters have disadvantages though I've forgotten what they are, doh, hopefully someone else will come and add their knowledge! If you wan to get the floor of the tank clean, why not use a gravel vaccuum?

what country are you in? people need to know so they can recommend places to buy tanks