Ph Level Of Tap Water 7.9

[busterbrit]

I'm currently doing a fishless cycle.

I just tested my tap water and the PH is 7.9.

I think this is high. Will it go up or down once I finish the cycle?

How can I get it down?

I want to keep the following in the tank:

3 guppies
8 neon tetras
1-2 Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami's (I want two but I keep getting mixed reviews if this is a good idea)
3 cherry shimp

I know I need a max PH of 7.5 for the fish I want.

Thanks.

 

[anwhyte]

I'm currently doing a fishless cycle.

I just tested my tap water and the PH is 7.9.

I think this is high. Will it go up or down once I finish the cycle?

How can I get it down?

I want to keep the following in the tank:

3 guppies
8 neon tetras
1-2 Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami's (I want two but I keep getting mixed reviews if this is a good idea)
3 cherry shimp

I know I need a max PH of 7.5 for the fish I want.

if you live in the UK a pH of 7.9 is pretty normal, if you add bogwood to your tank that will lower it a bit. I think if you have 2 male dwarf gouramis you will have trouble, but a M/F would be OK

Thanks.

 

[busterbrit]

but I've read the Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami's and neon tetras need a PH of 7.5 or less. How do i do that if normal water PH levels are above that?

Will it go up or down once the tanks cycles and I have fish in it?

 

[anwhyte]

but I've read the Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami's and neon tetras need a PH of 7.5 or less. How do i do that if normal water PH levels are above that?

Will it go up or down once the tanks cycles and I have fish in it?

i'm pretty sure dwarf gouramis can deal with pH levels up to 8, neon tetras do prefer it lower. basically you're stuck with the tap water available, adding bogwood will lower the pH & soften the water, i don't think the cycling process will change these parameters. Maybe you could think about not getting the neon tetras & trying a different species?

 

[anwhyte]

but I've read the Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami's and neon tetras need a PH of 7.5 or less. How do i do that if normal water PH levels are above that?

Will it go up or down once the tanks cycles and I have fish in it?

just had a thought, cardinal tetra's are almost identical to neons & might cope better with a higher pH, easily available & cheap too.

 

[busterbrit]

where can I get bogwood?

Are cardnial tetras hardier fish?

What would happen if they were in my tank with this level of PH?

Are the PH down by ADP any good?

 

[OldMan47]

I have tap water and tank water that runs about 7.8 all the time. So far, any fish that I have put into it except some wild caught corydoras have not had any problems. I'm afraid my water was just too hard for the cories although the one that survived and adapted has been doing great.

 

[busterbrit]

I have tap water and tank water that runs about 7.8 all the time. So far, any fish that I have put into it except some wild caught corydoras have not had any problems. I'm afraid my water was just too hard for the cories although the one that survived and adapted has been doing great.

do you have neon tetras?

 

[craig855s]

PH values given are only guidelines, Fish sold at ur local fish shop will be in the local fish shops tapwater...which comes from the same water authority as u. So they will be acclimated to that PH, bogwood will lower the PH a tad,as will the fish themsleves..so once ur cycle is complete,get that large water change done and add ur stocking,acclimtise gently and hope for the best (neon tetras are prone to death in new set-ups and also prone to neon tetra desease)

My PH is 7.8-7.9 and im keeping harlequins,panda corys,plec,guppies,platys,gouramis,and rummy noses.and cherry shrimp,theyre all fine

 

[drobbyb]

I would advise against adding neon tetras to a new set up. They need a tank that has been running with fish for at least 6 months.

As par as the pH thing goes, you will be fine. The fish can adapt and they are most likely already acclimated to your areas water as stated above.

 

[busterbrit]

Thanks for confirming this.

These are the fish I want to get:

3 guppies
8 neon tetras
1 Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami (should I get a male only or add a female?)
3 cherry shimp

When the tank finishes its fishless cycle what should I add first?

I was thinking...

3 guppies and 3 cherry shrimp

wait a month

add Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami

wait 4 months

add 5 neon tetras

wait 1 month

add 3-4 more neon tetras

done

How does this sound? Can I add the Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami when I add the guppies or should I wait?

Thanks!

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Your tank PH will be different than your tap water. I had mine tested and tap water was over 8 and tank water was under 7. The tank I tested is a 3-gallon with 2 guppies.

What size tank are you getting? Personally, I would start with the three guppies and take it from there.

 

[busterbrit]

Your tank PH will be different than your tap water. I had mine tested and tap water was over 8 and tank water was under 7. The tank I tested is a 3-gallon with 2 guppies.

What size tank are you getting? Personally, I would start with the three guppies and take it from there.

60L

so my plan is a good one?

 

[craig855s]

Thanks for confirming this.

These are the fish I want to get:

3 guppies
8 neon tetras
1 Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami (should I get a male only or add a female?)
3 cherry shimp

When the tank finishes its fishless cycle what should I add first?

I was thinking...

3 guppies and 3 cherry shrimp

wait a month

add Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami

wait 4 months

add 5 neon tetras

wait 1 month

add 3-4 more neon tetras

done

How does this sound? Can I add the Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami when I add the guppies or should I wait?

Thanks!

There is NO POINT in going through a full fishless cycle only to stock with a couple of fish (a lot of the bacteria you have spend nearly 2 months growing will die as a couple of guppies is not enough to feed all that bacteria,add more fish in one go or only do a small fishless cycle (1ppm to 0-0 in 12 hours)

Also the mini cycle encountered when adding more fish will upset ur shrimp,so i advise adding shrimp after all stock has been in a week, my recomendation is to go for cardinal tetras or harlequin rasboras instead of the neons(or some other tetras like lampeyes?) and add all ur stock once ur fishless cycle is complete

As for the gourami issue,dwarf gouramis arent hardy, but 1 male 1 female would create issues,so 2 females to 1 male or just 1 fish

Your tank PH will be different than your tap water. I had mine tested and tap water was over 8 and tank water was under 7. The tank I tested is a 3-gallon with 2 guppies.

What size tank are you getting? Personally, I would start with the three guppies and take it from there.

Carbonate hardness,i have that problem too, my tapwater is PH7.2 and 48 hours after it comes out of the tap it raises to 7.9 due to the excess CO2 gassing off.

 

[busterbrit]

Craig- thanks for the advice.

could i add the dwarf gourami right away as well or does that have to wait?

My kids and I really like the neon tetras. The cardnial tetras look almost the same...are they hardier thant he neons and that's why you suggest them? Do they get bigger than neons? How many do I need for them to feel at home?

Thanks!!!!