Archived message board.
help! pH problems
I'm setting up a new 10 gallon tank and can't seem to get the ph
to drop below 7.6. I've added LOTS of pH down, but the reading won't
budge. I'd like to be at about 6.8 or so. Suggestions?
- The ph of my tap water is 7.6 also. For the first two years I had
fish I left it alone and I still have 2 red-eyed tetra that are 5
years old. The last three years they have been at a lower ph, but
I quit putting chemicals in the tank when my algae went crazy on the
phosphate. A little over a year ago I bought a reverse osmosis unit
that does cost $100 plus to get my ph down. This is really the only
effective method I have come acrosss.Even now I keep mine at 7.0.
The only reason you need to bring it down is if you are breeding or
keeping discus (which you really do not want to do very fussy). Even
angels are being bred now at a higher ph, because they have adapted
over the years to the hatchery ph. Ask your fish store if they lower
the ph. Most of the ones here DO NOT so actually if they don't you
may be shocking the fish more by moving them from the higher store
ph to the lower ph. Anyways I think lowering ph is okay, but definately
not for a begginner....unless you can do some serious reading on buffering
etc. and spend some money. Reverse osmosis filters out around 90%
of everything even some of the good minerals so it needs reconstituting
or some tap added back to it. It gets tricky to mess with PH.
- ah the gotta get my ph down questions...first..always ask yourself
why?...mucking around with ph can be a frusrating thing...buy the
way what is your ph to start with?..anyway the ph down stuff may not
be an effective way if your buffering capacity is strong(test your
KH and GH)...furthermore if the ph down stuff has lotsa phosphates
in it you will get algea...so if you if you want to bring it down
there are ways to do that but test your water first then we can go
from there with suggestions...
- This is my initial ph reading. New tank, no fish yet. I read that
the fish prefer a lower ph (I was going to start with some tetras)
Should I not try to lower the ph? Is it really important? I don't
have kits to test KH & GH, guess I'll need to pick some up. Would
goldfish be a better starter fish for me as they prefer a higher ph?
This is my first tank, and I really am without a clue, so I really
apreciate all the help I can get.
- If you are really concerned about the ph and fish a Betta is pretty
tolerant of ph ranges(6.0-8.0) and a pretty fish. Tetras really like
to be kept in groups to feel secure. A 10 gallon is pretty small to
keep a group of tetra. If you pick the small ones like neon or cardinals
they are not very hardy. I had more cardinals and neons die than any
other fish I have kept in five years. Goldfish are actually pretty
messy fish and you can't keep too many in a small tank because of
that.You may check out platies they also like high ph and are very
hardy and friendly fish.The only fish I ever had breed for me were
my platies and I saved 2 from being eaten by the other fish.
Some of the dwarf gouramis also like higher ph, but be careful 2 in
a small tank may fight.Your cory cats also will not have problems
with ph.White clouds also like a higher ph...but they must have cooler
water, so you can't really mix them with other fish.
- Ok..I got you now...I hope you have read all the begginer material
on this site to help you get started...Then test your water like I
said.. then all of us out here can offer suggestions on which way
to go..alright...
- Thanks all, for the advice. I have decided to leave the ph alone,
rather than keep adding more chemicals. I adopted 3 multicolored platys
this afternoon, and they appear to be acclimating well.....I'll keep
you posted on their progress.
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