Ph In A Tank

[xlittlestar]

I havent kept fish for years and decided to do it all again, so much has changed with filters etc. I have had my tank up and running now for a month and have done a ph test a number of times and it still reads light blue which to the card is about 7.6. Ive been told it is to high and did put a some ph reducer in but it hasnt made any difference. My Siamese fighter fish died this morning with no signs of illness, ive only had him 2 weeks. I have a 120 litre tank with plants a good filter and heater, i have 4 apple snails, 3 shrimps, 2 mollies, 3 western rainbows and 3 bronze corydoras. Could it be that the ph is to high for the fighter, or could it be a problem that im missing. If my ph is to high how do i get it to go lower. Any help would be appreciated. thank you

 

[ZoddyZod]

since the tank has only been running for a month, have you also tested for ammonia and nitrite?

 

[The Taffy Apple]

+1 to what ZoddyZod said..ignore your PH for the time being, post a FULL set of water test results that include Ammonia, NitrIte and NitrAte.

Terry.

 

[xlittlestar]

I havent tested for ammonia and nitrite, i will do that as soon as possible. That is one test kit i havent bought yet, but will do straight away, thank you

 

[OldMan47]

The pH in your tank should not present any problems at all. I am afraid that you have fallen into much the same trap that I did when restarting the hobby. We were all aware of the potential effects of pH but simply did not consider other chemicals. In a modern day tank, pH is almost meaningless. Instead we have learned to focus on ammonia and nitrites. The best evidence we have right now shows that ammonia or nitrite above 0.25 ppm is harmful to our fish. Almost any tank will have values above that unless it has been set up for several months with either fish or a fish substitute in the tank. We can simulate having fish by using an ammonia dosage. We have links on this site to fish-in and fishless cycling methods. They are even present in my signature area. Please read through those and return here to ask any questions you still have.

 

[Hoveringpie]

A stable pH is better for fish than one that is moving all over the place. I wouldn't start adding additives to the water to change your pH as you are fighting a losing battle of constant pH changes.

 

[Aqua Tom]

It is not your pH that is the problem, it is ammonia.


Tom