low pH level in tank

[ejhh]

This question has probably been asked before but I can't find it.

I've had the tank for 6 months have been losing fish over the last 2 months.
My LFS tested my water and all was fine except a pH level of around 5 !
They sold me some stuff to raise the pH level but I cannot maintain a neutral pH level.

I've lost 3 mollies and now even a tetra is struggling (I thought they were hardy?).
Symptons are always the same. The fish struggle to swim. Their heads are much higher than their tails (almost vertical) and they die a few days later.

I do weekly partial water changes (never more than 2 weeks between) and change or rinse filters in the tank water. I use a gravel cleaner when doing this to remove waste material.

The only possible thing I can think I'm doing wrong is that I add the new tap water (which is pH neutral) to the tank and then add the recommended doses of Stress Coat and Stress Zyme.

Should I be de-chlorinating BEFORE I add the new water to the tank?

Does anyone have any other ideas why the pH keeps going down to around 5 to 5.5 (nitrates and nitrites are ok).

appreciate any help

thanks
Edward

 

[Angel Lady]

Please dont use that ph adjuster stuff you will only do more harm than good. You can raise the ph with baking soda just the same without using chemicals. Add two teaspoons and wait a day then add two more. You dont want to raise the ph to fast. This will kill you fish also. I am sure they are more people will agree with me on the chemicals thing. It will do your tank more HARM than good. Go the baking soda way. Trust me..

 

[rdd1952]

I do weekly partial water changes (never more than 2 weeks between) and change or rinse filters in the tank water. I use a gravel cleaner when doing this to remove waste material.

The only possible thing I can think I'm doing wrong is that I add the new tap water (which is pH neutral) to the tank and then add the recommended doses of Stress Coat and Stress Zyme.

[snapback]872124[/snapback]​

This is almost certainly your problem. In doing the water changes you are raising the pH too much and sending your fish into pH shock. There must be something in your tank that is causeing the pH to drop so much from 7 to 5. Besides fish, what do you have in your tank? Are you adding CO2 to aide with live plants. Also, have you checked the KH of your tap water? I would imagine it is 0 as it seems you have no buffering capacity.

 

[ejhh]

I have only 10 fish, 4 plants, some gravel and a rather tacky 'Triton' that my daughter liked in my LFS. It's a Jewel 70 litre (15gallon) tank.

I don't add CO2 and don't have an air bubble machine (or whatever it's called).

Is there anywhere that gives precise instructions on doing water changes?
I think I must be doing something wrong there.

In fact, the more I think about it....... the manual that came with the tank mentioned adding new water through the built-in filter system. Since I wasn't dechlorinating before I added the tap water through the filter system then I was probably killing off much of the bacteria in the sponges.... Right?

I'll try more regular and smaller water changes for the next couple of weeks.

thanks for your help.

Edward

 

[rdd1952]

I strongly suspect that the CO2 is your problem. It will definitely drive the pH down, especially if your KH is low (no buffering capacity). Are your fish hanging around the top of the tank like their trying to get air? When you say their heads are higher than their tails, that sounds as if they have their heads near the surface in search of ixygen. Try disconnecting your CO2 for a while, especially at night. Since there isn't any light at night, the plants aren't using much CO2 so it builds up in the tank.

As for adding the dechlorinator before or after putting water in the tank, it really doesn't matter. A lot of people, myself included, use the pythons to do water changes. I have heard people that add their dechlorinator before they start the water running, some that add it after the water is in the tank and others (me) that add half before the water starts running and the rest after it's full. Just as long as you add it shortly after you finish adding water it will be fine.

 

[ejhh]

Now I'm confused.
By "CO2" are you refering to carbon dioxide?
How do I disconnect my CO2? As I mentioned in an earlier posting, I don't have one of those air bubble machines.

And yes.... I especially noticed this morning that the tetras (at the bottom of the tank) are 'panting' like they've just run a marathon.
The silver sharks are not gasping for breath but look as though they've just run up some stairs a little faster than usual.
However, the Gouramis are happier at the top of the tank, not panting but looking as cool as ever.

btw, only one tetra has its head higher than its tail. It's definitely struggling to swim.

thanks again

 

[tttnjfttt]

When people have a planted tank, sometimes they will specifically add CO2 into their tank (you are right, carbon dioxide) to help the plants. I think it is just that you have a very low KH, or buffering capacity to the water. Through all of this, have you checked the ammonia and ntirite levels in your tank? These would be very good to check, especially because you rinse your filter in tap water. Ammonia and nitrite can be even more stressful than the low pH. However, I think your pH is low enough where you will want to try to raise it a little. Here is a pinned article in the tropical chit chat section that talks specifically about pH, KH, and GH. It should be very helpful

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=59467

 

[@ombomb]

5.5?

Have you tested if for yourself?

I have seen people at some fish shops doing water tests...

...and you'd be better of dipping your finger in and licking it to find the water quality than trusting their results.

Try and find API tests for ph, Nitrates, Amonia, Nitrites and KH.

 

[rdd1952]

I don't add CO2 and don't have an air bubble machine (or whatever it's called).

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I read this wrong and thought you were adding CO2. Sorry.

And yes.... I especially noticed this morning that the tetras (at the bottom of the tank) are 'panting' like they've just run a marathon.
The silver sharks are not gasping for breath but look as though they've just run up some stairs a little faster than usual.
However, the Gouramis are happier at the top of the tank, not panting but looking as cool as ever.

btw, only one tetra has its head higher than its tail. It's definitely struggling to swim.

thanks again

[snapback]874380[/snapback]​

These are all signs of no oxygen. For some reason, it seems that your tank is lacking oxygen. I would suggest lowering the water level to get some splash from your filters (if your using HOBs) or adding an airstone. The fact that it appears to be worse in the morning really sounds like the pH is crashing over night from too much CO2.

 

[Fiori]

I have a similar problem to you, in that my tanks' pH drop fairly quickly, until the reading goes off the scale. Since I also have planted tanks and use CO2 this can be a big problem. I now add some coral sand to a stocking and put it in my filter, to add some buffering capacity to my water (my KH is 1). A little at a time and you will soon reach a level pH that you want - I keep mine at 6.4 for the type of fish I keep. Running an internal and external filter in each tank seems to strike a happy medium of minimum surface agitation but sufficient oxygen.

 

[smooth_bourbon]

wooo dont add baking soda to your aquarium.

If you decide use it first of all it will do no good unless you add something as a buffer, such as the crushed coral mentioned. At which time slowly up the ph thru water changes I found a pinch of baking soda in 8 gallons made the difference between 6.4 and 8.2. You will definatley need a test kit if you are gonna attemp. Dechlorinate the water (never hurts to be overly cautious especially when you are having problems the way you are doing it) and a pinch of baking soda. Agitate the water really good, then let it set for twenty minutes and test the water. Before adding it to the tank.

What other fish do you have in the tank??

Mollys love some salt if your other fish can handle it.

Oh yeah I dont think you should be adding the water thru the filter. Just pour it in very slowly so as not to stir up the substrate.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Everything I have read about baking soda is it will increase the KH AND raise the pH. Killing two birds with one stone.

 

[smooth_bourbon]

sorry to have disagreed with your post. I was lashing out from personal experience

I was told a couple years ago (when I was trying to fix the ph in my puffer tank) to add baking soda. As I tested with it I realized that a teanie tiny bit goes a very long ways. I dont think it affects the kh and if it does not by very much, for I would raise my ph and it would be back down the next day. You might need more then I suggested since I was also adding aquarium salt I just wanted to make sure they did not over do it and shock the fish making things even worse.

 

[@ombomb]

Baking Sada (bicarbonate of soda) is generally added to increase the carbonate hardness of the aquarium (KH) and doesn't really have that dramatic affect on the pH.

 

[smooth_bourbon]

ok maybe I have super freaky water where I live or something Can only go by what I actually experienced when I used it.

Sorry If I have confused anyone