URGENT- FISH DYING FAST-pH too high

[chickenmagic210]

Hi,
I had 2, 3 year old fish, i got 3 more and all but 1 died. I got 2 more and they are dying. They are now all dead. :help: :jaws: the ph level is too high. (got it checked at the pet store) What can I do to lover this. I heard baking soda. But how much per gallon. Please help I don't want to lose my precious fish!

[invadertoast]

What are you other parameters (Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?) A stable ph is more important than an "ideal" one for the species you have. What size tank is it, and what kind of fish are you keeping? If the tank has been set up for years and the fish are dying now, I wouldn't suspect the ph unless you moved recently or something changed with it.

[Lady Hobbs]

Baking soda will raise your pH, not lower it.

I think your bacteria load was large enough to support your current fish but when you added 3 more, you ended up with an ammonia spike. It sounds to me as you have a tank that is too small for these fish. More information is needed on what size tank, what do you consider pH as too much and how long has this tank been set up and was it cycled.

[PostalPenguin]

Yup, the fact that your fish died when you added more suggests that you overstocked your tank or stocked it too fast and had an ammonia spike that killed them.

[smaug]

As the others say I ditto.Its a cycle problem.You need big water changes everyday till your bacteria catch up to the new load.Sorry bout the losses.