huge newbie pH screw-up - help

[ptiquet]

We just inherited a 20-gal fresh-water tropical tank from our neighbor yesterday. She showed us the basics and turned us loose. My wife tested the PH today, but instead of using the PH testing drops she used the ammonia test drops. The results were slightly yellow, so she kept adding the stuff to raise the PH, until the aquarium was murkey white. I saw this and freaked out, I tested the aquarium (water was slippery feeling alkaline), and it was dark blue off-the-charts. BAD. Having had fish when I was a kid, I knew this wasn't good to leave as is.. So, I siphoned out half the water and added new water along with the drops to lower the ph. The tank is now semi-back to normal. The ph is still showing slightly alkaline, but it is much closer to neutral than it was. We lost one neon tetra in this ordeal so far, not a big deal, but the rest seem to be doing fine (neon tetras, mollies, guppies, some little catfish).

Question is, are we out of the woods yet or should I expect a few more to spontaneously kick the bucket? Is there anything else I can do to help lessen the damage?

[brendanh]

From what I understand it's the large swings in pH that cause a problem. Sounds like you have it under control. If you need to lower the pH more, make sure you do it gradually so the fish don't get even more stressed.

For most setups the pH that comes out of the tap is great (7-7.6 or so) and you don't have to mess with those chemicals. If you have special tap water considerations, let us know and we'll respond accordingly.

[Leopardess]

It is generally best to completely avoid messing with the pH at all; either by adding pH up or down. Most pH values are okay for the majority of fish (6.6-8.0, for example) and most values that are given by sources on fish give their wild habitat's pH values - which are not much of a guide when dealing with tank bred, farm-raised fish that are accustomed to human tap water. Also, chances are, you bought the fish from a store near you ...which uses the same, or similar, water source as you and are used to your parameters.

The MOST important thing is to maintain a STEADY pH - which is accomplished by not adding any chemical additives, esp. the ones that come with pH testing kits. All they do is temporarily lower/raise the pH, and then because the kH/gH of the water hasnt' really been affected, the pH will swing back to what it was in the first place. This causes pH swings that can be deadly to the fish.

I would not be surprised if you lose more fish (esp, things like neons that are "fragile") and/or get a tank full of sick fish. pH shock can be a very serious problem to the fish and they don't handle it well.

I'd do frequent small water changes to get the water (quickly, yet still gradually) back to it's original values. This will help relieve the screwed up osmostic pressure as a result of adding so many chemical drops to the tank.

*EDITED* It helps to be literate;)

BTW - I realize the pH fiasco was a mistake, but I mentioned maintaining it for future reference so you dont feel the need to alter the pH in the first place:)

[tomm10]

I agree with what Leopardess said. To more directly address your immediate concern though, don't worry to much about it. Those pH products don't last so even the screw up would likely have cleared itself up in a day if not in hours.

Throw that pH correcting stuff in the trash to avoid any problems in the future. :)

Tom