PH Keeps changing

[Stickyrabbit]

I have a 60x45x45 tank with 2 adult mollies and 2 immature mollies 6 silver cloud mountain minnows, 1 plec.

My tap water is very hard and heavily treated. I usually bring the PH down when I do a water change. Unfortunately the white powder is simply labelled ph down, so I do not know what it is exactly.

I also add plant feeding nitrate tablets every second or third water change. Water changes are done weekly, ususally 2/3 water change.

All my plants are real no plastic.

So how come my PH in the tank keeps creeping up?

It gets high enough to make my fish ill and several have actually snuffed it.

The water must have been right at some point cos the mollies had a brood.,

 

[@ombomb]

Why is your pH fluctuating...?

Becasue you keep adding white powder that alters the pH...

My tap water is has a pH of around 8 - 8.2, as I live just on the outskirts of London, and I have never had a problem with my fish becasue of it. Remeber the place you buy the fish from keeps this in local water! Fish are able to adapt to most water conditions, what they can't adjust to is frequent fluctuations. Chemicals which alter the pH really should only be used in the most extreme of circumstances and then, VERY carefully.

My advice is throw away your pH down and stop worrying about the pH, you're doing more harm than good.

 

[mrV]

White powder is probably phosphates.

It would be more helpful if you tell us:
- pH in your tank and pH from your tap water
- GH
- KH

Why do you add nitrates more? What is nitrate level in your tank when you use those tablets and when you don't use them? What about nitrates in your tap water?

It doesnt mean that water is excellent when fish are breeding. It would be too easy and probably water in every tanks will be good - if you are thinking about breeding.