Cardinal Tetras Dieing

**Basic** · 10-10-2012, 07:12 PM

I have a 30 gallon tank fishless cycled and fully stocked for approximately two months.

My stock is:

6 cardinal tetras
6 harlquin rasboras
3 bolivian rams
6 sterba cory cats

water params:
ammo: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10-40 (changed every 3 days ~30% to maintain nitrates under 40)
temp: 76
pH: 8.0

Everything was happy for approximately 2 months. Last week I lost a tetra. Since then I have lost 3 more. The dead ones have no signs of disease. Nothing has changed with my water conditions so I'm not really sure what to do. Any help would be appreciated!

**jeffs99dime** · 10-10-2012, 07:17 PM

Ph is way too high for everything in your tank, especially the rams and cardinals who are easily affected by high ph.
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish...onaxelrodi.php
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish/bolivianram.php
I'll be willing to bet that your water is very hard also if you ph is that high.

**Basic** · 10-10-2012, 08:03 PM

I had been told that the fish would be okay acclimating to this ph. Is there a reason that this would suddenly become a problem? Is it normal for the ph to take so long to effect the fish?

**Basic** · 10-10-2012, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by jeffs99dime

Ph is way too high for everything in your tank, especially the rams and cardinals who are easily affected by high ph.
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish...onaxelrodi.php
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish/bolivianram.php
I'll be willing to bet that your water is very hard also if you ph is that high.

I just spoke to the local pet store, they are recommending a product to regulate the ph at 7, Neutral Regulator from Seachem. Is this the right thing to use? Is there another alternative?

**steeler1** · 10-10-2012, 08:47 PM

Chemicals are quick fix's but not that benificial. Buy some Organic peat moss and a filter bag and place in your filter, this will soften the water and bring down the PH.

**Lady Hobbs** · 10-10-2012, 10:16 PM

You can easily raise pH but you can not lower it. It will drops for an hour or so then shoot right back up again. pH is only supposed to be moved about .4 in any 24 hour period.

If you are planning on dropping the pH from 8 to 7, that is not 1 point but 100 points.......I believe.

**Cermet** · 10-10-2012, 11:55 PM

Nirates should be under 10 ppm for Cardinals! These fish need pure water (nitrates under 5 ppm better still) and higher temps than most common tropicals. Your temp is in the low range for Cardinals. Try 80 - 82 F and much lower nitrates and I would think they would do a lot better. I agree the pH is far too high (most Cardinals are wilds and these have pH's well under 7.0) but that is very difficult to fix unless you use some RO water. Chemicals are NEVER the answer since these are expensive and hard to maintain as well as control water pH.