Ph Low

[stewarrior]

Hi all i would like to know what is the best way to bring up my water ph?All the other stats are 0 and doing well but my ph is 5.I have just lost a swordtail and a platty in two days and any tips would be appreciated. By the way my tap water is 7.5

 

[WILDER]

That tap water fine for livebearers but can't understand why your tank ph is so low as it should read near enough to the tap reading.
Need to look at your substrate and ornaments in the tank.
Can we look at your stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph.
Size of tank in gallons or litres, and full list of fish in the tank how many and which type.

Not many fish keepers have a nitrate reading of 0.
What your tap nitrate reading, and do you use live plants in the tank.

 

[stewarrior]

That tap water fine for livebearers but can't understand why your tank ph is so low as it should read near enough to the tap reading.
Need to look at your substrate and ornaments in the tank.
Can we look at your stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph.
Size of tank in gallons or litres, and full list of fish in the tank how many and which type.

Not many fish keepers have a nitrate reading of 0.
What your tap nitrate reading, and do you use live plants in the tank.

Hi wilder my stats are
PH 5
Nitrite0.1
nitrate5
Ammonia0.3 ish
I have 2 clown loach, 2 swordtails, 1 platty, 1 plec, 4 guramis, 3 scissor tails and a few neons.
The tank size is 4ft x 2ft x 2ft.
Yes I do have live plants in the tank, I do water changes weekly of 10%.
Is there anything I can add to the tank to increase the PH or do I have to do a water change?
Thanks for your help.

 

[WILDER]

Tank to small for the clown loaches.
Tanks saying uncycled.
How long has the tank been set up, as it sounds like the filter not coping with the load.
Need to do a gravel vac and remove the ornaments.
And i would start to do some daily water change small ones though as don't want to swing that ph to fast.

What type of plec is it, as they are massive waste producers.
And to be honest that 10% water change is to little, do you use a gravel vac.

http/semperficichlids.freewebsitehosting.com/tanks.html

 

[stewarrior]

Tank to small for the clown loaches.
Tanks saying uncycled.
How long has the tank been set up, as it sounds like the filter not coping with the load.
Need to do a gravel vac and remove the ornaments.
And i would start to do some daily water change small ones though as don't want to swing that ph to fast.

What type of plec is it, as they are massive waste producers.
And to be honest that 10% water change is to little, do you use a gravel vac.

http/semperficichlids.freewebsitehosting.com/tanks.html

i allways use the vac when i do the water change, I did change the polyester filter pad about two weeks ago but didnt change the foam ones at either side. The tank has been up and running about 1 year.

 

[WILDER]

Increase water changes to 20%.
Invest in another filter as that one on its own not coping.
I would consider rehoming the clown loaches.
How big are the loaches now.

 

[stewarrior]

Increase water changes to 20%.
Invest in another filter as that one on its own not coping.
I would consider rehoming the clown loaches.
How big are the loaches now.

Hi wilder i have invested in another flval 4 this is the same one i am runing at the moment.going to try and fit that one in as well is going to be tough,Also the clowns are 3-4 inch long. i have done another water change this after noon and slowley going up it is 6

 

[WILDER]

Don't forget to soak the sponges in tank water and squeeze some mature filter sponges over the new ones to get things going.
Don't do large water changes don't want that ph coming up to fast as it can cause ph shock.
Good luck.

 

[xoedusk]

Do you have wood in your tank?