Seriouse Ph Problem!

[ringham]

I have 2 fish tanks and when I did a param check on them the ph was very high for both of them. I then decided to do a 30% water change on both of them to try and balance it out. My fatal mistake was not checking my tap water ph before I did the water change. I should have done this foirst bot I didn't. After a 30% water change on bothtanks I did a ph check and the ph was worse!!! I then did a ph check on my tap water and it is a wopping 8.4. I now worry for my fishes lives! I plan to go to my LFS tomorrow for some ph balancing treatment.

I would appreciate any suggestions as to a better course of action.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I have 2 fish tanks and when I did a param check on them the ph was very high for both of them. I then decided to do a 30% water change on both of them to try and balance it out. My fatal mistake was not checking my tap water ph before I did the water change. I should have done this foirst bot I didn't. After a 30% water change on bothtanks I did a ph check and the ph was worse!!! I then did a ph check on my tap water and it is a wopping 8.4. I now worry for my fishes lives! I plan to go to my LFS tomorrow for some ph balancing treatment.

I would appreciate any suggestions as to a better course of action.

What is the ph in the tank? Does the tank have any bogwood, coral, sandstone, limestome, seas shells or slate etc in it? How long has the tank been set up?

 

[Bloo]

I wouldn't panick just yet. My tap pH is 8.4 quite often too - though this does vary. And my fish have always been fine. Test your tapwater after letting it stand for 24 hours and then your tank a day after water change, and let us know what those readings are.

 

[Behemoth]

i had high ph before and i bought this bottle that consisted of ph reducer, and it automatically reduces the tank to 7.0
it worked well for me and i never had another ph problem after that.

 

[steelhealr]

Many fish are adaptable..depends on what you keep in your tank. One thing is for sure....DO NOT RAPIDLY CHANGE THE pH. A rapid change in pH can kill your livestock.

If you want and NEED your tanks to have a neutral pH and your water runs high, there are several options:

1) pretreat your water before adding it in...either let it sit or adjust it with additives

2) add an acidifying pillow to your filtration, but, once your tank gets down to neutral, you won't want to do a direct water change and add 8.4 water to 7.0

3) the expensive route would be to purchase an RO filter and then supplement with the minerals that you would need in your water change

4) as above, observe based on what type of fish you have

SH

 

[ringham]

I havew already heard that rapid ph reduction can seriously stress fish, even to death. I bought some ph ajustment treatment at my LFS today because I am now off for easter. I put it in a few hours ago but havn't yet done params. I will post as soon as they are done. I have bog wood and sand in my tank, I dont have gravel.

P.S. thanks for all of your addvice, it is appreciated

 

[Nim]

I always advise against any PH manipulating agents as they can many times do more damage then any benefit.

What you have effectively done right now is "Double stress the fish". If the tap water PH went up then it is best to adjust the fish to that rather then push the PH down again and causing more problems.

Unless you have Discus or overly sensitive fish, you dont need to do any PH adjustments.. if tap water chemistry changes drastically then do small water changes to allow the fish to adjust to the same.. if you did a large water change by mistake.. then the worst thing you can do is panic and add chemicals.

Nim

 

[ringham]

I am afraid it is to late for that as I have already added the chemical but was sure to put minimum amount in so that it does make a difference but not stress the fish to much. They seem ok now, and I added chemicals 24 hours ago.

 

[@ombomb]

Personally I would throw the rest of it away, it will cause more harm than good in the long run.

 

[Bloo]

Personally I would throw the rest of it away, it will cause more harm than good in the long run.

Absolutely 100% agree. Even way back when when I didn't know better and wanted to buy this from my lfs, they just didn't want to sell it to me ! So just goes to show.....