pH

[goldiscales]

What can acidic pH levels do to fish?

 

[Rainbow_fish]

It will just cause the fish to be unhealthy, unless they are suted to acidic water like killi fish and some gouramis.

John

 

[tstenback]

When talking about PH levels being acid, do you have a specific level you need to know about? Most fish can handle 6-7 PH level fairly well if they have been properly acclimated to those conditions. Below 6 is very risky for most tropical fish. HTH

 

[noelberg]

good post tstenback.
may i add that too high of a pH can also be harmful. many tetras won't do well with pH above 8 since they prefer more acidic conditions, while some livebearers and lake tanganyikan cichlids like a more basic pH.

many people worry too much about trying to hit that magical pH of 7 - that's hard to do. to be truthful, most tank raised fish will survive in a pH between 6 and 8, especially if your lfs uses the same water that you use. so there is little or no benefit in buying those expensive pH chemicals - IMO they're more likely to kill fish than a stable pH under or over 7.

my advice is to check your tap water pH, and if it is between 6-8, then only check your tank's pH sporadically - pH swings can be harmful to fish, so you don't want to completely ignore pH. IMO, ammonia and nitrite levels are much more important to check than pH.

 

[Teelie]

There are a few ways to lower pH or raise it. To lower it, use RO water that has a neutral pH to help dissipate the basic elements in the water. If the pH is in the 7's but high, peatmoss and bogwood will gradually lower the level.

Use tap water with a high pH to raise it if it's too low or use calcium products. Shells especially can raise pH quite easily.

BTW, whenever you alter pH, make sure you do it gradually, and that it will be stable. Chemicals tend to drastically alter the pH and only temporarily at that so it bounces wildly between high and low.

 

[goldiscales]

Thank you for your advice!