Ph Levels

[Yoshi]

Hi everyone. I have been reading this for a while now to research for my first tropical fish tank. Firstly I have to admit to owning a 60 litre bi-orb (you can all swear now!). Mainly because it looks cool however having read the site and spoken with my local fish farm I have ignored the bi-orb instructions and tried to do the right things - so far so good as clear water and no fish have died. I have had it about 6 weeks. I have lots of live plants and my fish are:

3 platys
5 black widow tetras

I added extra media (is that the right word - bi-orb rocks basically) and do not intend putting in the 24 fish it says I can due to the retricted surface area. I am regularly testing the water and everything is neutral (and has been for a couple of weeks) with the exception of the ph level which is 8.4/8.6 (my tap water is 7.2/7.6). I have done two 25% water changes and rinsed my filter sponge out in the removed tank water. I have used a ph down product to no effect. If everything else is ok does it matter if the Ph level is high? I understand it might restrict the fish i can have? Anyone got any ideas how to reduce it?

 

[12azor]

If you have plants in the tank then they can increase the pH and so does aeration. If you have an airstone, and your filter creates enough oxygen for the fish then you may want to take it out.

The breakdown of the organic waste will also lower the pH if you take this out whilst oding water changes every week may not be a good idea, possibly do it less often as the bacteria in the tank should breakdown most of it.

Not sure if changing the water will reduce the affect of pH down too.

 

[Yoshi]

If you have plants in the tank then they can increase the pH and so does aeration. If you have an airstone, and your filter creates enough oxygen for the fish then you may want to take it out.

The breakdown of the organic waste will also lower the pH if you take this out whilst oding water changes every week may not be a good idea, possibly do it less often as the bacteria in the tank should breakdown most of it.

Not sure if changing the water will reduce the affect of pH down too.

Thanks for my first response - this is such a good way of getting feedback. So I should try and remove my bi-orb airstone and wait longer before rinsing out my filter sponge - is that what you are saysing? Oh and do another water change.. Do you know if adding driftwood helps - there was an old response on this site which suggested so?

 

[Sofia]

Bogwood does reduce ph levels so you may want to get some of that in your tank.
You also do not need to clean your filter sponge everytime you do a water change.

 

[Yoshi]

Bogwood does reduce ph levels so you may want to get some of that in your tank.
You also do not need to clean your filter sponge everytime you do a water change.

Thanks - picking up some bogwood from a friends tank today so hopefully get some reduction in Ph and the bonus of extra bacteria. I already have some fish from the same tank & getting 5 more today so looking good. Always handy when a friend decides to get rid of his tank!!

 

[ckulahci]

what kind of gravel is in there? Any rocks? Also ph down liquids don't help alone you need to buffer the tank. Otherwise roller-coaster ph trnds will stress out your fish too much.

 

[Yoshi]

what kind of gravel is in there? Any rocks? Also ph down liquids don't help alone you need to buffer the tank. Otherwise roller-coaster ph trnds will stress out your fish too much.

Hi there. I have bio-rocks plus one big natural rock but can't put gravel in the bi-orb. What does "buffer the tank" mean??

Very excited as I have just added 5 rummy nose tetras, 2 apple snails and an angelfish to the tank. I think the angelfish is too big but it has previously been in a tank slightly smaller with most of my fish as I got them all from the same person and seemed to have been happy there??