Fish Dropping Like Flies

[Tizer]

Im from the UK and we dont do wells

Wrong

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The key with pH is that it needs to be stable more than anything else. Here is my basic thoughts on the situation, but this is all conjecture based on the information presented thus far. Well water is a key fact to know, so that helps to unravel the story a bit more.


1) the API test kit pH goes up to around 7.4, and the high kit starts around 7.8, I believe. So that means that your pH is likely 7.6 or there about. But, what was it BEFORE? What is the pH of your well water straight from the tap? If this water is coming in around 8+, then you may have a very serious issue.


2) Your pH indicates basic water, and you use well water. It is very possible that your water is fairly hard (full of minerals, due to the natural filtration process). I think that it may very well be. Have you tested the hardness of your water?

3) You have a lot of fish which prefer softer, acidic water. Black skirts, for example, prefer water that is acidic and soft. They can be kept in basic water, but if the hardness is too high, that could be an issue.

 

[EX1EY]

Im from the UK and we dont do wells

Wrong

okay...people from Salford, don't do wells

 

[meloyelo]

The key with pH is that it needs to be stable more than anything else. Here is my basic thoughts on the situation, but this is all conjecture based on the information presented thus far. Well water is a key fact to know, so that helps to unravel the story a bit more.


1) the API test kit pH goes up to around 7.4, and the high kit starts around 7.8, I believe. So that means that your pH is likely 7.6 or there about. But, what was it BEFORE? What is the pH of your well water straight from the tap? If this water is coming in around 8+, then you may have a very serious issue.

Never tested it until this past weekend for reasons stated earlier in my posts. It was when the fish started going all of a sudden that I wondered if it could have something to do with it. I will test tap water and tank water tonight and will post those results.

2) Your pH indicates basic water, and you use well water. It is very possible that your water is fairly hard (full of minerals, due to the natural filtration process). I think that it may very well be. Have you tested the hardness of your water? No. So high PH would indicate hard water?

3) You have a lot of fish which prefer softer, acidic water. Black skirts, for example, prefer water that is acidic and soft. They can be kept in basic water, but if the hardness is too high, that could be an issue.
I've got a lot to learn instead of just half hazardly going to Petsmart and getting "community" fish.

Thanks for your input.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

High pH doesn't necessarily mean hard water. But, I've never heard of hard water that didn't also come with high pH, so it is very possible.


Yeah, the first thing you want to do in regard to keeping fish is test your tap water parameters and find fish that are compatible with that. Lots of good websites for finding fish preferences on hardness, pH, tank mates, etc. But, the key is to know what your tap water conditions are to use that as your baseline.

 

[meloyelo]

OK, either I totally screwed up the PH tests the other day or the PH has crashed. PH tests just a few minutes ago:

Tap water PH - 6
Tank water PH - 6.6


Other test results
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 40

Actually 4th straight day of those 3 readings.

Also 2 more dead fish this afternoon. Now down to 1 cory and 1 danio

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I don't know nearly enough about well water to know if this sort of thing is normal.

 

[snazy]

If the Ph read off the scale on the API PH low test before, than the color must have been darkish blue as this is what mine tests at(on the Api High ph scale it normally tests very light brown which isn't even comparable to the minimum possible on that scale) If it is now 6.6, then the difference in colour is quite noticeable between the two. That's quite a drop from 7.6 and is enough to kill any fish if it happens suddenly.
If the water you use for changes is 6, then unless you are taking it slow when changing the water, and do smaller water changes at a time, you are causing a shock to the fish.

 

[meloyelo]

If the Ph read off the scale on the API PH low test before, than the color must have been darkish blue as this is what mine tests at(on the Api High ph scale it normally tests very light brown which isn't even comparable to the minimum possible on that scale) If it is now 6.6, then the difference in colour is quite noticeable between the two. That's quite a drop from 7.6 and is enough to kill any fish if it happens suddenly.
If the water you use for changes is 6, then unless you are taking it slow when changing the water, and do smaller water changes at a time, you are causing a shock to the fish.

Yes, that is pretty much how the colors looked on Saturday, very dark blue on PH and very light brown on High PH. Now today the result is 6.6 on PH. Since my tap water tested at 6, I assume that I somehow had a PH spike in the tank, then it dropped back to it's "normal" number. ??? Sounds like that could have easily killed the fish. What could cause PH spikes, assuming that's even what happened? I do use a small bucket when doing water changes, but pour the water in slowly. Also normally do about 50% at each change.

Thanks for your input.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm wondering if the pH of the well water might have changed.

 

[snazy]

I'm wondering if the pH of the well water might have changed.

Possible too. That's another reason why well water is risky to use for a fish tank.

What could cause PH spikes, assuming that's even what happened?

Well water can actually have a lot of CO2 and thus a low Ph when tested straight. When added to the tank, the aeration in the tank releases the CO2 into the air, which in turn causes a rise in the Ph.

Presuming this is the cause, the Ph of the water in the tank after a water change will first drop because of the low PH water added, and then rise after the CO2 is released. Fish then on theory would be exposed to a fluctuating Ph.

But there are all other reasons why your fish could be dying. Are there any other signs maybe? Anything at all changed?

 

[meloyelo]

Found this while searching around this evening. Interesting read and sounds a lot like what I've been experiencing. It's a discussion about PH Shock.

http/www.arofanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63543

 

[meloyelo]

I'm wondering if the pH of the well water might have changed.

Possible too. That's another reason why well water is risky to use for a fish tank.

What could cause PH spikes, assuming that's even what happened?

Well water can actually have a lot of CO2 and thus a low Ph when tested straight. When added to the tank, the aeration in the tank releases the CO2 into the air, which in turn causes a rise in the Ph.

Presuming this is the cause, the Ph of the water in the tank after a water change will first drop because of the low PH water added, and then rise after the CO2 is released. Fish then on theory would be exposed to a fluctuating Ph.

But there are all other reasons why your fish could be dying. Are there any other signs maybe? Anything at all changed?

I've changed absolutely nothing at all, other than the water that is.

 

[snazy]

Keep testing your water everyday, the Ph before and after change if possible to see how big of a water change you can do. Then after a while test the Ph again to see if it changed. Tap water I use is quite acidic,about 6.4. I have pieces of drift wood in both my tanks which are supposed to further lower the Ph, but the water in the tanks are both at 7.6 for unknown reason(dark blue on low ph test and very light brown on the high scale, but thankfully never changes.
Once you test a few times, if you notice it is fluctuating, then that's your problem

 

[meloyelo]

Keep testing your water everyday, the Ph before and after change if possible to see how big of a water change you can do. Then after a while test the Ph again to see if it changed. Tap water I use is quite acidic,about 6.4. I have pieces of drift wood in both my tanks which are supposed to further lower the Ph, but the water in the tanks are both at 7.6 for unknown reason(dark blue on low ph test and very light brown on the high scale, but thankfully never changes.
Once you test a few times, if you notice it is fluctuating, then that's your problem

Will do, and thanks for the help from everyone. I'll keep testing for a few days and post back if there are any "interesting" results to share. Good evening to all.

Meloyelo