Ph Levels

[allgipan]

Hi people,

I have 5 Zebra Danios, 2 Bronze Cory's, 3 Neon Tetras and 2 Dwarf Gourami's. Now over the course of the last two weeks I have been told different things about what my PH level should be for keeping these fish. It is currently at 7.6 in my tank but then I was told it should be at 7 and at another place should be at least 7.9?

Whats going on? One guy said that at 7.6 they should all be on deaths door, they are fine apart from one of the Dwarf Gouramis is a little pale!

Many thanks

Ally xxx

 

[atmmachine816]

It's best to have it at 7.0 usually though certain species like it higher or lower. In my opinion it's best not to mess with pH unless you fish require it since most fish can adjust just fine. I would add some driftwood though to naturally lower the pH instead of having to add chemicals or other addittives. If you fish are fine I wouldn't worry about it a whole lot you you might want to check your stocking levels.

 

[allgipan]

It's best to have it at 7.0 usually though certain species like it higher or lower. In my opinion it's best not to mess with pH unless you fish require it since most fish can adjust just fine. I would add some driftwood though to naturally lower the pH instead of having to add chemicals or other addittives. If you fish are fine I wouldn't worry about it a whole lot you you might want to check your stocking levels.

Hi, yes I have some drift wood in, I am not putting any more fish in now as although technically I could put more in I just dont think it would be fair, I am happy with what I have. Thinking of using LFS water for water changes as my tap water PH is terrible. xxx

 

[rdd1952]

Most of the fish you have would prefer a pH on the slightly acidic side (7.0 or lower) but in truth, the pH is really very unimportant as long as it is stable and not excessively high or low. Most all fish can adjust to any stable pH. They struggle when it is constantly swinging as it does when you use the pH adjusting chemicals. There are of course some fish that have much more rigid water requirements such as discus but quite a few community fish are tank bred now so they are very accustomed to different pH levels. If you want to lower it naturally, driftwood will do it and so will adding some peat moss to your filter. Keep in mind though that the higher the buffering capacity, the less effect those things will have on the pH.

 

[Bignose]

It's best to have it at 7.0 usually though certain species like it higher or lower. In my opinion it's best not to mess with pH unless you fish require it since most fish can adjust just fine. I would add some driftwood though to naturally lower the pH instead of having to add chemicals or other addittives. If you fish are fine I wouldn't worry about it a whole lot you you might want to check your stocking levels.

RE "It's best to have it at 7.0" I know that you put a qualifier after it, but I really do not like how that sentence started. There is nothing sacrosanct about 7.0, just because it is labelled "neutral". Fish have adapted to quite a wide range of waters, from 4's in the Amazonian basin to 10's in the African Rift Lakes.

I would have written that sentence with "It's best to have the water at the same pH as the fish's natural waters usually though certain species can fully adapt to the pH being higher or lower"

And that is the beginning of my response to the OP. Firstly, fish will be at their best if they are in the same kind of water as their natural habitat. This is why it behooves you to research your fish's natural waters, so see how closely you can replicate it if at all possible. (Bet you haven't seen the word "behooves" on a forum in quite some time, eh?) Now, that said, you also need to research your fish to learn how adaptable they are. Fish like your zebra danios are very adaptable and will love long happy full lives in quite a large range of waters. What really becomes critical is keeping a constant pH, the one thing you don't want is the pH fluctuating about. Most fish will adapt to a pH that is outside thier ideal range. Fish do this constantly in the wild -- several studies have shown that the pH in most lakes and ponds change by around 1 pH unit during the day as the sun comes up and sets, or as rain runs off into the bodies of water. If your fish are kept in non-ideal pH water, they may not naturally spawn, but they can still have a happy fully life. Unless you are trying to breed them, changing the pH of the water in this case isn't necessary.

Just aim to keep a constant pH, and the fish will be fine. It is far, far, far more important to cycle the tank and keep the ammonia and nitrite levels at zero.

 

[allgipan]

Thanks very much for all your help, last message was cool and I shall look at ways to use the word beehoves as much as possible in my everyday conversation ha ha.

All greatly appreciated xxx