pH for rams...

[SConrad]

from what i have read 5.5 is a good pH to keep rams in...well my dad owns a pool shop and we hav chemicals that we use in pools to drop or increas the pH, can i use these chemicals in my aquarium so i don't have to buy stufF/?
i may not even be able to because im sure the bottle will say 1 oz for 10000 gallons...so i would have to divide that by 1000 lol, ewll thx for reading and plz reply!

 

[parker313]

I would not use pool chemicals in my tank.

Rams do best at lower pH, but can be happy at 7.0 and probably even higher if they've been acclimatised to it.

I've got mine at 6.8.

 

[David]

5.5 is very, very low. I don't think any fish would enjoy being in water that acidic. Remember pH is logarithmic, meaning that for each time it decreases, the acidity increases tenfold. For example, a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 6. IMO no fish should be kept in water that acidic, unless they've been acclimatized to it very gradually. Could be potentially damaging to their health.

 

[SConrad]

hmmmmmm site must have had a bad source...so do you think6.8-7 is good?

 

[SConrad]

better ? here...what's a good pH for rams?! lol

 

[Crystal]

Everywhere I have read is around 6.8 for rams. I might be mistaken though.

 

[parker313]

Fishprofiles.com says 5.0 - 6.0.

Fishinthe.net says 6.4 - 7.2

Go figure. Basically, as long as you just want to keep them healthy and happy 6.8 is going to be just fine. If you wanted to breed them, that's when you'd ideally like to see the softer, more acidic waters.

 

[JeremyD]

I have not had good sucess with these in anything over pH 7. I struggled to keep it down to 7.0 for a while, but it was just not worth the effort. Even at 7, the group did not seem as active and healthy as a group of the same spawn kept in someone elses tank around pH 6. IMO, the lower the better with these.

 

[cation]

. For example, a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 6.

Not true. The 10 times increase in acidity happens from 6.0 to 5.9. In other words, pH alkalinity increases tenfold by every 0.1 increase, not for every 1.0 increase. (or acidity increases tenfold for every 0.1 pH drop, not for every 1.0 drop, whichever way you prefer to look at it.)

 

[AmberC]

OMG! 5.5 is WAY too low. pH for rams should be NO lower than 6.0. I keep mine at 6.4. A good pH for rams would be anywhere from 6.0 to 7.0

And you should NOT use pool chemicals. That would probably kill your fish. You should only use chemicals that you find at your lfs because they are specially made FOR fish.


I cant believe sites are saying 5!!!

 

[SConrad]

so im definatly thinkin that 6.8 will be good..

 

[David]

. For example, a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 6.

Not true. The 10 times increase in acidity happens from 6.0 to 5.9. In other words, pH alkalinity increases tenfold by every 0.1 increase, not for every 1.0 increase. (or acidity increases tenfold for every 0.1 pH drop, not for every 1.0 drop, whichever way you prefer to look at it.)

Woops sorry about that. That's what I meant. Anyway I wouldn't trust fishprofiles.com too much, they think clown loaches grow to 6 inches in captivity and can be kept in a 20 gallon. anything from 6.0-7.0 should be fine for rams I think.

 

[SConrad]

i mostly use fishindex.com...6.8 it is..
i ordered the rams yesterday, they wont be in untill after this hurricane so i have to wait two weeks and then they will call me and they should be in 2 days after i call....well thx for your help everyone!!

 

[canarsie11]

. For example, a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 6.

Not true. The 10 times increase in acidity happens from 6.0 to 5.9. In other words, pH alkalinity increases tenfold by every 0.1 increase, not for every 1.0 increase. (or acidity increases tenfold for every 0.1 pH drop, not for every 1.0 drop, whichever way you prefer to look at it.)

Woops sorry about that. That's what I meant. Anyway I wouldn't trust fishprofiles.com too much, they think clown loaches grow to 6 inches in captivity and can be kept in a 20 gallon. anything from 6.0-7.0 should be fine for rams I think.

Right?

 

[SConrad]

okay, well i just tested my water in the tank and im not sure what it's at because the meter goes from 6.8 and up... i would say around 6.6 or so, but i will try to get it up around 6.8 before my fish come in