PH Methods to lower??

[bauera2]

I have a 75 gal tank with 2 H.O.T. Mangnum filters running. One has the filter sponge and activated carbon. The other has the filter sponge and algone treatment packs in the media canister.

There are two circular air stones pumping out bubbles(which my blackskirt tetra loves swimming through)

The tank has been running for a little over two years with an assortment of tetras and a Sailfin pelco.

I have recently (Nov) added 6 dwarf garuamis which all but one has died now. Upon futher investigation I have found that my water has a PH of 7.8-8.0 and the hardness test was off the scale. I tested my tap water and the results were the same. The biggest suppries is that my water goes through a water softner.

Should I be worried about getting the PH and hardness down??
If so, what methods should I use?

[OrionGirl]

How did you acclimate the gouramies to your tank?

Unless you're looking to breed your fish, messing with pH is more of a headache than it's worth. You may want to see if you have access to water that has not been through the softener--most water softeners work by swapping ions in the water, and some types can cause othr problems for a tank. Check www.skepticalaquariast.com for more information on how they work.

Otherwise, a slow acclimation to the harder water should be all you need to keep most fish. Fish are pretty accepting of gradual changes; it's sudden ones that cause problems.

[Lauren]

Reverse Osmosis water, I believe has a low PH. I use this to combat hard water and a PH of 8.2. But I just started, so I don’t know the long term effects or what not. They make bottled PH which doesn’t work as well as it should, but it did lower my PH when I used it. Not to the 7.0 advertised, but it took 8.2 down to 7.6, so it is worth a try.

[bauera2]

OrionGirl / Lauren

Thanks for the replies.

I looked at the website OrionGirl supplied lots of good information.

As for putting the gouramies in, I let them float around in the bags from the pet storefor about 2 hours adding a 1/2 cup of my tank water to there bags every 20-30 minutes. This was teh pet stores suggested pratice. I have used it since day one with all my fish. The gouramies are the first fish that I have had die in suck a short time. I have had others die in a few days but usually just one. This was 4 withing the first two weeks!

I was considering trying Angle fish, but I keep getting confliting advice about there compatability with Tetras.

Have either of you had any experience?
'
Thanks again.

[TKOS]

Angels should be fine with all but the smallest tetras like neons etc...

As for your ph. If you have had tetras living in it for over 2 years now then I wouldn't suggest using anything to change the pH. Obviously your tetras have adapted fine. Sounds like a bad group of gouramis.

[Z Man]

Question? When you say your water goes through a 'water softner'. If you mean for the entire house, I believe that is a part of your problem. It makes the water softer but also increases the pH. There should be water tap BEFORE the unit. It's usually there for outside lawn & garden watering or car washing as soft water is not used for that. Plus why use the unit when not necessary? A waste of chemicals! Find that tap and take a sample of the water before the softener unit. Actually pH does not come into play that much unless you are trying to breed certain low pH fishes. A 7.8 or 8pH is really not that high to begin with just to maintain a fish tank.

[bauera2]

Z Man
Thanks for the reply!

I have looked and there is no tap before the watersoftner. The line does go to the outside taps. I will have to shut down teh water supply to my house and install a valve.

My Ohterhalf hates my fish tank and when I mentiod doing this she suggested that it was time to get ride of the fish.

Enough said.

Thanks again to all for the info.