Fish Suitable For My Ph Level?

[Supraman]

So after running tons of ph tests I have discovered I have rediculouy high ph levels in my tank hurting my fish. I have a friend who has a cycled tank and is willing to take my tetra off my hands so I don't hurt them any more. Now for my results, in my tank I'm getting a ph of 8.8 I was blown away by that as I even added drift wood into my tank with no drop. I have herd adding peat moss helps but that's not a permanent solution, and will change every water change.

So what fish am I able to keep? I know cichlids like high ph but is that too high?

 

[TallTree01]

How big is the tank?

 

[lefty07603]

hello, im in the same boat as you are. my ph is over 8 and my water is as hard as a rock. but DONT change your water chemistry! it is complicated and always ends up back to its "normal" levels. any live bearer will do! so platy, swordtail, molly, guppy will work! harlequin rasboras are fine! and danios say theyre for soft acidic water but theyre bred so much that theyre very hardy now. your LFS probably has them in the same water as you!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

pH in itself does not limit the fish we can keep, the hardness and TDS are far better indicators, but hard water does not have to be alkaline and soft water does not have to be acidic.
 
Things like peat and bogwood tannins will have little effect on hard water long term, just as is the case for those "pH up/down" products on the market.
 
What is your water's gH and kH? Test it with a liquid test kit.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Is this test from your tank or tap?
You have said that you have high nitrate which may have converted to nitric acid (I think that's what it's called?) which raises the pH and may be the cause of the high pH although if it came from your tap then that's a different story!

 

[Supraman]

Blondie this tank is not the tank having problems, and how do I test for gh and kh? I have a API master test kit. Also these readings are from the tank itself

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Hmmmm okay sorry bout the mistake lol!
You can buy some more liquid tests for the gH and kH or your LFS should be able to do it.
Also test your tap water and see if its the same. There could be something in your tank that is raising the pH.

 

[Supraman]

Thats the thing already tested my tap water and its way lower

Tap water reads 7.8, but that's right out of the tap I have a sample sitting for 24hours to see if there is any change

But there's nothing in my tank besides my substrate, a small piece of drift soon and some plastic decor

 

[Blondielovesfish]

What is your nitrate reading?
Do some water changes and see how much it changes.
What substrate are you using? I have heard of some people reporting their substrate has raised their pH level.

 

[Supraman]

I'm using pebbles it's the one in my pic if you can see it. And both nitrate and nitrite read 0 in this tank

 

[Blondielovesfish]

You could also take out the decorations and out them in a bucket of normal DECHLORINATED tap water, make sure you do them one at a time and so do this for the driftwood. You should hopefully find your cause. If you don't then take a handful of your substrate and do the same as the above.

 

[Supraman]

Hmm not a bad idea I may try that tomorrow lol

 

[the_lock_man]

Is this test from your tank or tap?
You have said that you have high nitrate which may have converted to nitric acid (I think that's what it's called?) which raises the pH and may be the cause of the high pH although if it came from your tap then that's a different story!

 
 
Psst, Blondie, nitric acid would lower the pH, not raise it.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Does it lower it? I thought it raised it? Oh well sorry for the mistake!

Also supraman be careful on those broken ribs of yours!

 

[Supraman]

Haha yea I'm glad I have a helper here tomorrow that I get to boss around