Very High Ph.. Is It A Big Problem?

[minikarter]

HI! I'm still quite new to the fish scene. I've been keeping fish for about 6 months now, never really had any problems. Atm I'm keeping 4 pencilfish in a 35L Arcadia Arc tank (hoping to turf these guys out to a bigger community tank and get a betta) but one died last night, so I decided to check the water parameters.

Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0.25, Nitrate = 20, and PH = 8.4 - 8.8!! (Using API master test kit)

I've just checked the tap water and the PH of that is also around 8.4+, Is this a big problem? And I've heard in many cases the PH isn't critical, but when I want to put a betta in it'll be my first one and I want the tank to be perfect for him and have it as close to neutral as I can.

I also realise the Nitrite is a little higher than it should be, I believe I've been overfeeding a little so will leave feeding for today and see what happens..

The tank itself uses fine black gravel, there's 4 plants (2 of which added 2 days ago) and a decent sized piece of bogwood that was also added 2 days ago. Though if anything shouldnt this reduce the PH?? Also using a Fluval U1 filter and a 50W heater.

I know you can buy RO water from the LFS but it seems like a lot of hassle to get every couple of weeks to do a weekly water change. Can anyone give some insight into the predicament?? Also if it's any help my last water change was also 3 days ago.

Thanks!!

 

[rabbut]

I'd say Nitrite and/or Ammonia spike(s) was the caurse of death. If the tank is at the same pH as from the tap, it's evidently been that hight in the tank for a while, so is nothing to worry about, the fish will be used to it The Nitrite on the otherhand... I'd do a waterchange on it myself, arround 30% and see how it goes from there

All the best
Rabbut

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with rabbut. Anytime you have a 6-month-old tank that shows nitrite in a test, there's something wrong. If the filter is sufficient for the fish load, it should have been long ago fully cycled and should be showing rock solid zero readings at all times for ammonia and nitrite.

You're using a good test kit. What are all your stats for your source water (I assume its tap water?)

I believe pencilfish like soft mildly acidic water with low nitrates, so the environment may not have been too ideal for them.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[minikarter]

Ok thanks! I'll do a 30% water change now. It is just tap water, as expected no ammonia, no nitrites, and strangely the PH has gone down to 7.4. Both Tank and tap water have done the same so I must have made an error in the PH test... oops! Though Nitrates from the tap water are around 10 - 20, is this normal?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Ok thanks! I'll do a 30% water change now. It is just tap water, as expected no ammonia, no nitrites, and strangely the PH has gone down to 7.4. Both Tank and tap water have done the same so I must have made an error in the PH test... oops! Though Nitrates from the tap water are around 10 - 20, is this normal?

I would not worry about the nitrates in the tap water.

How long have you been over feeding your fish? Nitrifying bacteria take longer to colonize than bacteria that break down ammoina. So if you have been over feeding; the bacteria that break down ammoina will colonize faster to break down the excess ammonia, while your nitrifying bacteria will take longer to break down the excess nitrite...leaving you with a mini nitrite spike...but that should not last long if that is the case.

You might have another source of ammonia in your tank as well, and the could be leading to the nitrite spike.

Just thought of something thought I thought I would mention, dont know if this is the problem or not.
You said that one of your fish died?...and since you are one fish less, that means that there is not going to be that much ammonia being produced and the bacteria in the filter will adjust accordingly to the amount of ammonia in the water. But if you are still feeding the same amount... the excess ammonia could be coming from the food?

This may be a little far fetched, but thought I would mention in. But since one of your fish died last night this is probably not the case.

-FHM

 

[minikarter]

Excellent! So 24 hours later after the water change Nitrites are down to 0, PH at about 7.4, Ammonia at 0, brilliant! Thanks for the advice