high ph

[jfd]

I have a 46 gallon freshwater tank. I have danios, rainbows, guppies, platys, kuhli loaches, algea eater and corys. My water tested good until 2 weeks ago--the fish store told me to do quarter water changes weekly. I have been doing that and my ph is still slightly high so I asked a different store today and they said to only change a quarter of the water once a month so the tank will be naturally sufficient but I should add some aquarium salt- it would lower the ph and the nitrates. I have the salt but don't know anything about it. Any advice would be appreciated. I have added ph down the last two water changes. Am I just being impatient with the ph--does always take time to lower it and will the salt be safe.

[Chrona]

I have a 46 gallon freshwater tank. I have danios, rainbows. guppies, playts, kuhli loaches and corys. My water tested good until 2 weeks ago--the fish store told me to do quarter water changes weekly. I have been doing that and my ph is still slightly high so I asked a different store today and they said to only change a quarter of the water once a month so the tank will be naturally sufficient but I should add some aquarium salt- it would lower the ph and the nitrates. I have the salt but don't know anything about it. Any advice would be appreciated. I have added ph down the last two water changes. Am I just being impatient with the ph--does always take time to lower it and will the salt be safe.

Don't add aquarium salt. Cories are sensitive to it, and it does nothing to lower the pH (in fact you should only use it in certain cases, such as when you fish get ich or nitrite poisoning). 25% water changes monthly will do absolutely nothing for you unless you have a heavily planted tank. You should aim for 50% every other week, ideally 50% weekly. Have you tested your tap water pH? What is your pH in the tank and in the tap? Guppies and platies actually prefer higher pH's. Also, do you have any rocks or a substrate that contains calcium? (Pour some vinegar or muriatic acid on it, if it bubbles, then it is a nono)

If it's only slightly high, I wouldn't worry about it. The fish you have are probably adapted already to local water, and will do fine in pH's slightly off from ideal. Fish would much rather have a stable pH than a more ideal one that fluctuates, which will be the case if you start getting into acid buffers and whatnot.

[kimmers318]

Chrona gave it to totally right! Unless you are seeing unusually high PH and can find a reason for it, and if it is what your tap water is.....DON'T MESS WITH IT! You will only end up with major ph swings that will stress the fish.

[Lady Hobbs]

Why would they tell you something so dumb. Salt does not alter the pH in any way. And weekly water changes are a must with a loaded tank.

[jfd]

I have one surviving angelfish with my danios, guppies, kuhli loaches, platies, rainbows and corys. I took your suggestions and tested my tap water--it's ph is slightly high and I heard my fish will adapt. Is it irresponsible to get another angelfish if they they need a lower ph? I got my first two young so the odds of becoming aggressive were lower because they would grow up with several smaller fish. I do 25% water changes weekly and add ph down--is another angelfish right for my tank? :confused:

[Chrona]

I have one surviving angelfish with my danios, guppies, kuhli loaches, platies, rainbows and corys. I took your suggestions and tested my tap water--it's ph is slightly high and I heard my fish will adapt. Is it irresponsible to get another angelfish if they they need a lower ph? I got my first two young so the odds of becoming aggressive were lower because they would grow up with several smaller fish. I do 25% water changes weekly and add ph down--are angelfish right for my tank?:confused: :confused: :confused:

Angelfish can do fine in slightly higher pH. You will want to raise the temps up a bit, to 77-78 or so. You are right about the decreased chances of aggression by growing up with smaller fish, but this does no always happen and it is still somewhat hit and miss. My angelfish was purchased at dime-size, raised with cardinal tetras, and it still terrorrized them at night later on. Don't change the pH with pH Down, as your pH will rebound within a day as the alkalinity in your hard water neutralizes it. If you seriously want to mess with the pH, then use large amounts of Proper pH, or Seachem's Acid Buffer. Again, I would HIGHLY recommend you don't touch the pH at all. Fish will get majorly stressed by constant pH changes.

[gm72]

This is yet another myth of aquarists--pH does NOT have to be "perfect" 7. Most fish (read: MOST, not all) are widely adaptable to a variety of conditions. Stability is the key trait for MOST fish. They will react negatively to swings in pH, but if it is stable you should be fine. Let your fish behavior be the telltale sign of incompatible water conditions.

Chrona has a great post here!