Hi, thanks for reading. I was hoping to find some advise on how to maintain a certian pH level of about 6.5 and a GH level of 6 in a 10 gal tank. All of the fish I plan to buy require this pH and GH range. Any advise? Thanks for baring with a researching beginner.
how to maintain a certian pH level??
- Thread starter rainbowprizimz
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How to maintain certian pH and gH levels?
I think my first post of this question was somehow misplaced, so just to be safe, don't get mad if you see this twice lol. I was just researching the fish I am planning to buy and they all require a pH of 6.5 and a gH of 6. How can I go about maintaining those levels in a 10 gal tank? Don't those level change everytime you do a 20% water cleaning? If so how do you get them back to normal, as to not harm or stress the fish with improper pH and gH? Thanks again for baring with me.
I think my first post of this question was somehow misplaced, so just to be safe, don't get mad if you see this twice lol. I was just researching the fish I am planning to buy and they all require a pH of 6.5 and a gH of 6. How can I go about maintaining those levels in a 10 gal tank? Don't those level change everytime you do a 20% water cleaning? If so how do you get them back to normal, as to not harm or stress the fish with improper pH and gH? Thanks again for baring with me.
What fish are we talking about and who said they needed such a narrow range?
You may have seen a suggestion somewhere or read that their natural habitat has a pH of exactly 6.5 and a GH 6.
That might be what is necessary for breeding behaviors to occurr or for eggs to hatch, but most of your tropicals can adjust to a wide range of water parameters. Keeping such fish on display might be entirely possible in the water you already have.
It's really best not to try and change your water too drastically- you'll end up with pH bouncing all over the place and the fish suffer because of it.
A stable pH is more important than a specific pH.
What does your tap water test after it has been left with an airstone in it overnight?
Tell us that and the species we're talking about.
I generally agree that it's best to avoid water mods if at all possible. That being said, there are couple of things to note. First, as said above, most fish can tolerate water that is different than that of their native waters. Second, stable pH is usually more important than 'perfect' pH. Finally, lowering pH and GH is much, much more difficult than raising it.
What is the GH, KH and pH of your tap water after it has sat out overnight? That would give us the info we need to start to answer your questions more specifically.
Jim
What is the GH, KH and pH of your tap water after it has sat out overnight? That would give us the info we need to start to answer your questions more specifically.
Jim
OK thanks for the reply's. I won' be getting any of the fish for a couple of weeks yet, and it is my first tank ever, so I was just curious becuase I am not to familiar with water pH gH kH etc. I have yet to buy a test kit. But once I test I will let you know what the level read after sitting out overnight. Thanks.
Oh yeah, the fish are 4 black phantom tetras, and a few fancy guppies (and cardinal tetras, but not for a long long while, maybe when we invest in a bigger tank seeing as how cardinals are better in schools).