PH problems

[shanjohnson1970]

I not quite a beginner. I've had my aquarium set up for a year now and I've lost a few fish but I can't seem to keep any new fish I put in except for an algae eater that usually lives for 3 months or so.
I know my problem must be my PH. I dont' know how to fix it. Let me describe to you my situation.
WE have well water with a water softener attached to it. I've tested the levels out of the sink, tank, and outside which doesn't have the softener attached. Below are the levels for each area.
TAnk
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Ammonia lowest level barely there
GH 0 (very soft)
KH 300 (high)
ph 8.6 (very high)

inside sink
nitrate 0
nitrite 0
ammonia 0
GH 0(very soft)
KH 300 (very high)
ph 7.2

outside sink
nitrate 0
nitrite 0
ammonia 0
GH 300(very hard)
KH 300(high)
PH 8.4

I've heard that adding ph down isn't healthy for the fish and if you have certain water conditions you can start a up and down cycle in your tank. My tank levels have remained steady since I set it up, but I would like to add new fish and start breeding. Can anyone give me some advice.
Thanks for you help
Shannon

 

[guppymonkey]

Depending on how large your tank is, it might be easier to try to buy water. Your pH and Kh are very high. Very few fish can live in water with that pH and with a Kh that high the pH will slowly rise and put the fish under a lot of stress. RO water might be good too but I don't know anythign about it.

 

[shanjohnson1970]

I have a 26 gallon tank. What kind of water should I buy? I've heard that distilled water shouldn't be used; what else is there?
shannon

 

[Alien Anna]

I have water with a pH and GH that high and yet I've had no problems.

Firstly, be aware that if you an record ammonia in your water, its a problem. It doesn't matter if its a very low level - ammonia is deadly toxic to fish.

Secondly, if you want to breed fish and you have such a high pH, why not ensure the fish suit the water rather than the other way around? Shelldweller cichlids would love your water and don't need a huge tank. Mollies and guppies can easily cope with such conditions as well.

OTOH, if you want fish that prefer a lower pH, stuff your tank with bogwood and start pre-filtering your water change water with peat (make sure its pure moss peat with no fertilisers). If you did this with 10-20% of the water per week your pH would gradually come down without any risk to your fish and the bogwood would help it stay there. Using this method I've got one tank down to pH 6.8, which is fine for my tetras.

Good luck, and don't forget that cycling a tank is the most important water issue of all - if you aren't sure about it, please follow the link in my sig and read my article. It should give you the necessary background.

 

[shanjohnson1970]

Thanks for the info Anna. YOu mentioned cycling. Wouldn't you think that my tank would be cycled after almost a year? I did have trouble cycling my tank at first; this is why I'm asking.
Thanks again,
Shannon

 

[shanjohnson1970]

I was also reading that if you have soft water that you shouldn't use peat moss. I read you should only use it if you have hard water. The water in my tank is soft and the water out of the tap is soft. Is this going to be a problem? Advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
shannon

 

[reg2k2]

Distilled water shouldn't be added directly to the tank, but you could try mixing it with the tap (same w/ RO).
Thing is ur GH is nil and, if I'm not mistaken, this can come into play when trying to breed fish..but I dunno.
Might try mixing w/ the outside tap, tho...should reduce both GH, KH.

One more thing...tank pH is higher than outside tap....anything in the tank bringing it up? rocks, shells, etc.
ps I like the suggestion of africans , but it sounds you've already got fish in the tank...