Ph Shot Up

[gems]

Well we have been doing water changes everyday due to the strange behaviour of our Pearl Danios because the ammonia was very high. Today the water tests out as follows: Nitrate 50mg/l, Nitrite 5mg/l, GH 10d, KH 3d, pH 8.0, Ammonia 0.25mg/l. The ammonia is down again, but the pH appears to have gone from 7.6 which it has been at since we began, to 8.0 and we don't know why. Why has this happened and is there anything we can do? We know you shouldn't really mess with the pH but we are worried. The fish do seem better, but now the pH has changed it probably wont help.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Well we have been doing water changes everyday due to the strange behaviour of our Pearl Danios because the ammonia was very high. Today the water tests out as follows: Nitrate 50mg/l, Nitrite 5mg/l, GH 10d, KH 3d, pH 8.0, Ammonia 0.25mg/l. The ammonia is down again, but the pH appears to have gone from 7.6 which it has been at since we began, to 8.0 and we don't know why. Why has this happened and is there anything we can do? We know you shouldn't really mess with the pH but we are worried. The fish do seem better, but now the pH has changed it probably wont help.

It is very unlikely that it is the pH change which has affected your fish. It is more likely the rise in ammonia and nitrite which has caused the strage behaviour. You are not overstocked so....

Keep up your daily check on water stats. Change about 10 - 20% of water every 2 days to keep things under control if ammonia and nitrite rise again. Next to what may have caused the rise in levels:

1. Did you have a fish die recently which you hadnt spotted in the tank.
2. Are you overfeeding?
3. Are you cleaning substrate and doing 20% water change every week?
4. Did you remember to dechlorinate your last water change?
5. Has your filter been off for any length of time.
6. What are the stats of your tap water?
7. Have you added any new fish / plants / rocks recently?

 

[gems]

to get tap water readings do we test it before we dechlorinate it?

 

[mark.w.jones]

to get tap water readings do we test it before we dechlorinate it?

Doesnt really matter, you can do.

 

[gems]

ok tap water readings as follows: Nitrite and Nitrate 0, GH 16d, KH 3d, pH 7.6, so don't understand how it has suddenly gone up.

Haven't had any fish die, haven't been overfeeding, probably underfeeding because of ammonia problems and no or little appetite, not added any new fish, filter on all the time, doing 25 % water changes daily to get ammonia down right now.

Thanks for your help

 

[mark.w.jones]

ok tap water readings as follows: Nitrite and Nitrate 0, GH 16d, KH 3d, pH 7.6, so don't understand how it has suddenly gone up.

Haven't had any fish die, haven't been overfeeding, probably underfeeding because of ammonia problems and no or little appetite, not added any new fish, filter on all the time, doing 25 % water changes daily to get ammonia down right now.

Thanks for your help

Go for water change every 2 days. 25% every day is a bit too much IMO.

 

[gems]

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Go for water change every 2 days. 25% every day is a bit too much IMO.
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Ok thanks. Was going to do another water change today, but will leave it til tomorrow now and see how they do. Only changing daily because the ammonia was so high - panicked a bit i think! Thanks for your help.