How important is PH?

[PooCooper]

TOPIC, I tried searching this but the engine will not take two letter words.

[Leopardess]

it is important in some ways, and unimportant in others.
Often, a fish profile will say that neons need, say, a pH of 6.4-7.0. This info is often based, however, on the natural conditions taht they are found in - aka where they originate from. The neons that you buy at the LFS are probably farm raised and have been subjected to different water parameters than are found in the wild. That said, most people run on the same water as their LFS, so most fish have been acclimated to your region's pH beforeyou even get them. Neons can actually live in a pH of 8 (not suggested, but it happens)

I say to think of pH like humidity to humans. If you lived in an area where humidity never went above 30%...then moved to a region where it maintained around 90% - it would be a bit of a shock. You'd be uncomfortable at first. But you'd acclimate to it and soon it would feel like normal.

So, pretty much, the thing about pH is to keep it constant. pH really becomes a factor when it is swinging and fluctuating. One of the biggest no-no's you can do related to pH is to try and use a chemical to alter it - such as the pH up and pH down that is in the pH test kit you bought. All this accomplishes is temporarily lowering/raising the pH - the source of the pH has not been altered...and therefore the water will bounce back to the original pH. So you add more chemicals...so it bounces back up...etc. It turns intoa fluctuating cycle. Rather than adjusting a pH to suit a fish, its better to chose the fish that suit your pH

There are ways to better alter a pH, but first you'd need to have a pretty good reason to do it.

All in all, it isn't THAT important - it only becomes a problem when chemicals are involved, when you're trying to breed fish, or when you are trying to keep VERY pH specific species. Or if your pH is below 6.2-4 ish or above 8 ish. Even then, many species are capable of living above/below these boundaries.

Hope that helped some...

[NatakuTseng]

You can also try google to find out some more info about the pH. In my own opinion, for the most part of course because there are exceptions, as long as your pH is around Neutral (7ish) you should be fine with most fish species. It also depends where your getting your fish from. I Keep Ram's, which supposidly need soft acidic water to be healthy, in water that has a pH of 7.4-7.6, and a gH of 8. Great looking fish, but here's the kicker, most places you look claim they are hard fish to get to spawn, and acidic water is a must to trigger spawning. Well my Rams spawn on about a 5 day rotation in those water conditions, and the eggs stay fungus free. Now here is where the pH thing comes into play, if the fish you buy were raised in acidic or alkaline water they should probably be kept in that kind of water. That said though, you can slowly adjust your fish to another pH, key is slowly. Even discus can be kept in slightly alkaline water like I have without problems. So in most store bought fish situations (unless the store is conditioning their water, which generally doesn't happen) the fish will be fine with a neutral pH or the pH of tap around the area. It is a factor, but in my own opinion, its not a hugely critical one.

[PooCooper]

I am keeping Central and south american cichlids. I had a convict get sick and die and I check ammonia nnitrites and trates regularly and do regular water changes. So the only thing I had left to check was ph. It was off the chart akaline-wise. These cichlids are supposed to have nuetral to acidic. Could this have led to my convicts demise? Also I have well water, which probably accounts for the ph.

[NatakuTseng]

Cooper I don't think that was the reason the convict died, infact they generally prefer slightly alkaline water. How long did you have the fish? also the well water is why your water is alkaline, but I also use well water and the pH is around 7.8 (I think the reason its lower in my tanks is because of driftwood) What exactly is the pH of your water? Also if you do want to change it you need to find out what the kH is in your tank. This is a buffer for the water essentially that will stabilize the pH, a high kH means your water is extremely stable, however its also difficult to change the conditions.

[PooCooper]

I used a dipstick to test the ph and it was way above 8.4 which is the maximum reading.

[PooCooper]

Is this safe for my cichlids and my tiger barbs?

[NatakuTseng]

How long did you have the convict though? If you have had it for a while and it suddenly died, I very highly doubt it was the pH, though it is kinda high. Perfect water for African rift lake cichlids though.

[PooCooper]

I had the convict for two weeks, Best colors I had ever seen on a female, Active until satyrday she got fat and died.

[PooCooper]

So if I got it down to 7, It would eventualyy just go back off the charts?

[NatakuTseng]

I wouldn't do anything with the pH, now if she got fat right before she died, I got a few questions for you. First did it look like her eyes were bulged out a little bit? also If you looked at her from above or as she was swimming away did it look like her scales were pushed out, kinda like the scales of a pine cone? If you had her for two weeks, and she was active, I'm willing to say it wasn't the pH. Convicts are one of the toughest fish around and can take almost anything, I heard a really accurate saying that to breed convicts all you had to do was add water and then add fish. Here's a couple more questions, How long has the tank been set up, and have you checked your Ammonia and Nitrite levels?

[OrionGirl]

There are a vatiety of ways to manipulate water parameters, but they all require careful monitoring. I agree with Leopardess--it is something you need to monitor and take into account for introductions, but otherwise it's best to leave it alone.

I doubt it killed the cichlid. pH shock is very real, but it is a quick killer, not something that would kill the fish 2 weeks after introduction.

[PooCooper]

thanks everyone, I will leave the ph off the charts. The other fish act quite happy. NOw that YOu have told me it will not hurt them, I will leave it alone.

[shaneZoid]

thanks guys for all your help.

[Leopardess]

Welcome:) I assume you meant to post this on your other thread, but posted here because this is where I linked you:)

[Must4ng s4lly]

Honestly?!??? I have NEVER tested PH for the two years I have had my tanks and have never had an issue.... I have one Ammonia sensor in each tank that tells me if the tank is OK on ammonia levels, but that's it!
Good luck!