Question about PH

[freshwaterfishlover]

When I do a PH test on my 3 tank it is as high as can be(dark blue), but when I go to my local Fish store(owner has been open 38 year and employee has 9 tanks) they tell me it's ok.

What do you guys say?

[turbomkt]

Hold old is your pH test? Is it the strips?

Tests are only good for a limited time after opening. the kind where you do the drops will last longer than strips.

If you're really worried, buy an inexpensive digital pH meter. Take care of the probe and it'll last a long time.

Finally...don't worry about your pH :) Your fish will adjust!

[freshwaterfishlover]

All the test kits the store sells are drops. I was just trying to find out why everytime my Neon tetras always die.

[jeffs99dime]

neons thrive in acidic water

[Lady Hobbs]

My pH comes from the tap at 7.6 which is dark blue. Do you use the ph test liquid for high pH or the normal pH tests.

Driftwood is said to lower the pH as well as peat in the filter. This peat sounds like a mess to me and I've never tried it as I am not high enough on the 7.6 to worry about it much.

I wouldn't worry about the pH unless you had very high pH of maybe 8. And then I would get fish that thrive best on higher pH like cichlids.

You can add RO water to tap water, as well, but that can be costly with large tanks and bringing water home, etc. Unless you install your own RO system, of course.

So many of the fish that we buy come from fish farms and are used to pH levels much different than what they'd have in their natural enviroment. They're bred in huge cement tanks under varied conditions as well and then transported to the stores and fish markets here with even different pH levels. I wouldn't worry about the pH unless you're planned on keeping discus (low pH) or cichlids.

Most all others are pretty adaptable to a varied pH. If you try lowering it with chemicals, it not only stresses the fish but will only go up again.

Aerating the tank and using bubble wands, etc, also will raise the pH lightly. Perhaps you will not want the water aerated.

[CJ1]

The fish you buy are generally bred locally. Sometimes you just have to realize the fish you want just won't live in the conditions present in your tank. Find fish that thrive in your tank. Stability of conditions is what you want to most.

[turbomkt]

Also understand that neons are one of the less hardy fish. If you want the same look, try and find cardinals instead. They may do better for you.

[freshwaterfishlover]

Thats the name. About a month ago I had 5 Cardinal Tetras and all died, but 2. Now last Sunday I bought 5 Neon Tetras and in less then a week 3 died.

I will not buy again. My 10 Gallon with 4 Zebra Anglefish are doing great and the 4 frogs in the 20 gallon are doing great. I have only have plants in my 30 gallon so far.

[Lady Hobbs]

Small tetra's are very picky with their water conditions. Have you checked your ammonia levels. I've lost two in 7 months and now only have 4 so want to get more.