Ph Levels High

[godzuki]

hi peeps

I noticed that another mickie is dieing so I cheaked the water all the readings are ideal except for the ph which is reading between 8 and 9, how do I lower this it and also the mickie was fine yesterday but now it looks a bit thin and its got bits of its tail missing... this hasnt been a gradual thing its happened over night, could another fish in the tank be attacking them as the fish arent dieing in clumps ther dieing one by one over a space of about 2 months what i mean is several fish arent getting sick its just one and its always the live bearers although saying that Im not sure what a micky is are the live bearers aor what??

plese help

godzuki

2 small silver sharks
2 mickies
3 black widows
1 swordtail
1 neon
5 small fish (tetras)

21 gallon
water temp 27 (although heater is set at 25 and the gauge is a outside one)
according to test both nits and amo are reading ideal.
ph level 8.5


so no-one asks

 

[love_fish]

Water changes could lower it, providing the pH of your water isn't high.

 

[WILDER]

The sharks need a 120gal tank so they want rehoming, do you have other water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, aso the skinny guppy can you see what it look like when he goes to the toilet, also does the anus look red and inflamed.

 

[dwarfgourami]

A micky is a micky mouse platy; that is an ordinary platy (mickey mouse just describes the pattern). That should be just about the last fish to be troubled by a high ph. Sounds more like it might be something bacterial.

 

[godzuki]

a few of the fish have had trailing poo recently could that be the problem?? and if so... how do I help. I dont think putting a laxitive into the tank wont work.....

thank you
lisa kelly

as for the sharks as soon as they grow i'll sort it but at the moment after a year there still 5cm and 7 cm. as soon as they show signs of growing i'll take them to my aquatics centre and thats there advice not my own. and there a well astblished company so I'll take there advice but thanks any way being informed of this sort of information is always handy. :0)

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Did the centre you got the sharks from tell you they needed such a big tank when you bought them? Just big it is a well established/big comapny does not mean its trust worthy. The reason why the sharks not only need a large tank due to the fact they grow a foot long but also because they are very energetic skittish fish and will not only stress themselves out being in crampt conditions but also the other fish, it is best to rehome them now before you get too attached to them.
The damaging of the fish's tails sounds like finrot, use a med called Primafix to treat the finrot(primafix treats internal and external bacterial infections plus fungal ones)- finrot should look like this;

http/www.fishpalace.org/salmonella_mantisaofa.jpg

http/www.fishpalace.org/finrot_qianhu.jpg

http/www.fishpalace.org/bactfinrot_noodles.jpg

Its normal for platys to have long poops unless the poops are white/grey/stringy looking .
What are your recent test results for ammonia, nitrates and nitrites?

I strongly advise you avoid altering your ph as it is fine for yoru fish and artificialy altering ph via chemicals causes many fluctuations in ph which is incredibly stressful for fish.

 

[godzuki]

the sharks came with the established tank.... and they we never be a permanent fixture but thanks for the advice. the platy's tail looks like the first picture, when has this happened over night and why do no other fish get ill at the same time. I'll get the the pet store asap and get some of that stuff. although wont be getting meth blue again as it dyed everything in my tank bright blue...

I havent rinsed my filter medium in a while could be a problem as well, I keep meaning to do it but I forget before I empty the water and genrally remember after Ive tipped at all away and I doubt washed in out in the loo pan will help it lol

kiss kiss
godzuki