PH Nightmare

[funkgland]

Hi all,

I've added Proper PH 7 into my tank, and it's clouded the water. I added around 24 hours ago. It looks as if the solution is not disolving. I also took a test glass, and the solution sinks to the bottom, but does not dissolve. I've changed my filter incase there is a problem there, but nothing has happen yet.

Does anyone know if this is normal, and will it affect the health of my fish. This is the first time I have used this product for PH leveling.....

Thanks

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Why did you want to change your ph? IMO a consistent ph is more important that the actual value.

I suggest doing a water change and see how it goes from there. How do the fish seem?

 

[funkgland]

They appear to be swimming around okay. I wanted to adjust the PH as it was around 8.5. The advice I had been given is this is not the best environment for maintaining a heathly tank.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

They appear to be swimming around okay. I wanted to adjust the PH as it was around 8.5. The advice I had been given is this is not the best environment for maintaining a heathly tank.

I think 8.5 is ok. Were your fish acting weirdly? Most fish can adapt to most ph levels and IMO it is not a good idea to go messing with the h as it will never end and it will only be more unstable as a result.

I am glad to read the fish are ok, I suggest a small water change. What is the ph of your tap water?

 

[GetTanked]

Unless your fish are acting poorly do NOT change your PH. If your going to do it, change it by using something other than PH chemicals. If your fish weren't acting poorly, changing the PH will make them act poorly. Maybe so poorly you will be scooping them out. Especially going from 8.5 to 7.0. If your going to lower it, do through water changes. Take a few buckets of tap water, add PH 7 to that if you must and get it to the ph your looking for. Another way to do it that I never had a problem with is Distilled White Vinegar. It doesn't take much to lower it. Put some in the bucket of water and test it and add it again and test it until you get it where you want. Let the water sit overnight with an airstone and a heater. Then add this water when you do a water change. You will have water the way you want and it will be conditioned as well, ready to add to your tank. Do this every two weeks and this will slowly and safely lower your PH. Not only that, a gallon of white vinegar is cheaper than a little bottle of PH products, plus you can make a salad after your done. By the way, don't do huge water changes when doing this. I would say no more than 10-15% at time. Good luck and I hope this helps.

Another way to show the affect of white vinegar is add one drop to your PH test vial after you did your ph test. At 8.6 you should have a nice dark color in the vial so don't empty it, take the dropper and just add one drop and your jaw will drop. Of course that is because one drop in a little vial is alot but its still a cool test.