Ph 8.3 - Neons And Platy In Tank

[smmetz]

I always had the basic ph test kit. Well, I recently got a few more water testing supplies, including high range Ph, Gh, and Kh. With my basic ph test, my tanks usually read at the top of the chart, 7.4. I was never sure how much higher the ph really was. I brought my new kits to work to test my new office tank.

Here is what I have:

amonia - 0
nitrites - 0
nitrates - 5 ( tap water at work is just under 5 )
phosphates - 1 ( tap water at work is about 1 )
Gh - 5
Kh - 4
Ph - 8.3

So, I knew the ph was going to be over 7.4, but not that much over! Also, I don't know much about water hardness, and how it affects ph.

From what I have read, platys should be OK with an 8.3 ph. Neons seem to prefer a more neutral or acidic ph though. Do you think they will be OK?

I know that most people recomment not messing with ph, especially with chemicals from the pet store. That is why I never bothered to get the high range test kit until now. I figured that I would just leave the ph alone regardless, so why bother testing.

The tank has sand substrate, a few real plants, and them some artifial driftwood. It is 20 gallons with 7 neons and 6 platy fry that are under 1 inch.

Anyway, if anyone has advice, let me know - thanks!

 

[Gnatfish]

In my opinion your pH doesn't really matter for just keeping them (not breeding). If you got them from lfs then I'm assuming they are accustomed to this pH anyway.

I have kept similiar acidic loving fish in alkaline water and they were fine, in fact they still are fine.

 

[docbanzai]

I always had the basic ph test kit. Well, I recently got a few more water testing supplies, including high range Ph, Gh, and Kh. With my basic ph test, my tanks usually read at the top of the chart, 7.4. I was never sure how much higher the ph really was. I brought my new kits to work to test my new office tank.

Here is what I have:

amonia - 0
nitrites - 0
nitrates - 5 ( tap water at work is just under 5 )
phosphates - 1 ( tap water at work is about 1 )
Gh - 5
Kh - 4
Ph - 8.3

So, I knew the ph was going to be over 7.4, but not that much over! Also, I don't know much about water hardness, and how it affects ph.

From what I have read, platys should be OK with an 8.3 ph. Neons seem to prefer a more neutral or acidic ph though. Do you think they will be OK?

I know that most people recomment not messing with ph, especially with chemicals from the pet store. That is why I never bothered to get the high range test kit until now. I figured that I would just leave the ph alone regardless, so why bother testing.

The tank has sand substrate, a few real plants, and them some artifial driftwood. It is 20 gallons with 7 neons and 6 platy fry that are under 1 inch.

Anyway, if anyone has advice, let me know - thanks!

generally Neons prefer an acid environment, but will adapt. Platies are very hardy, so no problem there. Adding chems to water can cause problems as they are mainly phosphate based so you can get loads of algae but perhaps add a couple of Otos to sort out brown algae if it develops (although you'll need to keep feeding them afterwards!) Green algae is all about scrubbing, oh my how I've scrubbed...

And before someone leaps on me; I am only speaking from my OWN expericences with extreme pH. All my fish are still happy (or so it seems...)

To sum up; I suggest you leave things alone. Don't make problems for yourself before they've surfaced. 90% sure it will be OK, but stick to your regular water changes!

 

[Gnatfish]

I suggest you leave things alone. Don't make problems for yourself before they've surfaced. 90% sure it will be OK, but stick to your regular water changes!

I second this

 

[smmetz]

One other question - I have a bushynose (or bristlenose) pleco at home that I was planning on putting in this tank eventually. They seem to like an acidic environment also, like 6-7 ph. Assuming he has time to acclimate, you think he will be OK too?

I will test the ph of the tank at home this evening, it might be just as high as at work anyway. However, I know the water at home has no phosphates or nitrates, and the water at work does. They are in different towns with different water districts.

 

[magafish18]

the neons will be fine but im not sure about the others.

 

[docbanzai]

One other question - I have a bushynose (or bristlenose) pleco at home that I was planning on putting in this tank eventually. They seem to like an acidic environment also, like 6-7 ph. Assuming he has time to acclimate, you think he will be OK too?

I will test the ph of the tank at home this evening, it might be just as high as at work anyway. However, I know the water at home has no phosphates or nitrates, and the water at work does. They are in different towns with different water districts.

Hi,
as gnatfish said, most fish will adapt to pretty much any pH, but won't breed unless the environment is perfect. If you're not bothered about breeding them then don't worry.

If you are going to transfer the Plec introduce him VERY slowly. Sudden changes of pH = One dead fish.

Tapwater... Don't get me started mine changes from week to week. One day the pH is a perfect 7 and two days later it can swing down to 5, and before I moved here I used to be in the mid 8's. But... never had a major problem with unhappy fish. The only times it's gone wrong was when I've panicked and stuck things like 'Perfect Ph7' in the tank. Yeah it worked great, but you couldn't see into the tank 5 days later because of the brown algae!!

 

[Gnatfish]

If you are going to transfer the Plec introduce him VERY slowly. Sudden changes of pH = One dead fish.

I hope CFC doesn't mind me quoting him on a pinned thread.

The best way to acclimatise a new fish is the drip method, take a length or airline that is long enough to reach from your tank to the floor and tie a loose knot in one end, you will also need a large water proof box. Place the opened bag containing the fish into the box and prop the bag up so it is upright and cannot fall over, then take the unknotted end of the airline and place it in your tank, give a good suck on the knotted end to start a syphon and tighten the knot until the flow is reduced to just a drip, allow the water to drip into the bag until it overflows and then release the fish into the box, continue to allow the water to drip into the box for around 2 hours, after this time the fish will be safe to add to your tank.

Hope this helps

 

[Qays]

That pH is fine, i have kept them in a pH of 8/8.5