What ph+kh+gh do you keep your livebearers at?

[100suno]

I have swordtails and guppies, recently I just found out my gh and kh were on the low side so I'm looking to fix that. However I think I might end up raising the ph to 8.0+ in the process...

 

[Essjay]

That is not a problem for guppies and swordtails.

 

[FishBearer9845]

My water is hard and the guppies have been fine in 8.2 (continuously stable)

 

[CrazyBettaLady]

My water is ridiculously hard and alkaline, and my platys and mollies did well enough. I lowered the pH with some chems when it started going upwards of 9 though.

 

[Jan Cavalieri]

I have semi-hard water but with a high (9.14) PH. I just got into this a year and 1/2 ago but read forums a lot as well as books (you should read the discrepancies between books). But when I first started I realized by PH was overly high - a PH of 9 will kill most freshwater fish. But, with a few exceptions, all freshwater fish will do ok between 6.5 and 7.8O so for now, let that be your target - then decide on the "perfect" PH for your tank. Mine is 7.0 and god-love them that PH only hurts the best fish in the world - the Dojo - who prefers a PH of 8 and a lower PH shortens their livespan. We use Equality Reducer and some times PH up or PHdown. We will nail it right on 7 but then find that the PH starts going down to almost exactly 5.4 by 7 days, so we MUST do a large weekly water change to allow our 9.4% water that we adding to what is now a 14,4 tank!

I ASUMME PH% is additive (can anybody verify)?

ALSO-FYI- I was informed by our City water offer (a project manager no less!! - they know we all want GOOD water and that it's not always used for drinking). A number of water departments, municipalities etc, are adding increasing levels of Ammonia. So one day we had at least 6.4%PH in the tank and did a water change adding 9.14% and forgot to add the equality reducer which is how we got our 14.4% water PH. Killed about 80% of one tank of fish - and we just did it again recently. We need to religiously measure our water before we do a water change even though the concentration of that PH will be deluted MOST, but not ALL of the time or we will continue to lose large groups - Bye Mr Coffee, by Bighbird - you were excellent fish.

OH I had been looking for a 2nd Chocolate Gourami for our first once and the online store for petzone has them for $14.99 (mine was originally $34). Even thevy've both bassed now I really miss the cappuccino look to these fish. For a small fish (and brown at that) they have pretty
markings,,

Also DON'T forget to change the water temperature as you fill your tanks, people have a tendency to get colder in water, even if the water stays warm so once you've got your water temperature in the right zone LEAVE IT ALONE!

 

[emeraldking]

That differs overhere. For I've got livebearers that do well in hard water and there are a number of species that do well in softer water. So, not all livebearers need or do well in hard water. I really like to point this out. For I do read too often that all livebearers do need hard water. That's a complete misunderstanding... It really depends on the kind of livebearer species we're talking about. Claiming otherwise would suggest a lack of knowledge.

 

[Essjay]

Most people keep just guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies. I try to remember to use the term 'common livebearers' rather than just livebearers but I do forget the 'common' at times.

 

[Colin_T]

guppies, platies and swordtails should have a pH above 7.0, GH above 200ppm, KH doesn't really matter.

mollies should have a pH above 7.0, GH above 250ppm, KH doesn't really matter

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

guppies, platies and swordtails should have a pH above 7.0, GH above 200ppm, KH doesn't really matter.

mollies should have a pH above 7.0, GH above 250ppm, KH doesn't really matter

You're here!! So good to see you! People have been really worried and missed you!

 

[100suno]

My water is ridiculously hard and alkaline, and my platys and mollies did well enough. I lowered the pH with some chems when it started going upwards of 9 though.

Thank you!