high pH (8.4) with tetras

[b_dog]

I recently did some more pH tests as I have been monitoring my pH lately because I recently moved to another city and the water supply has a very high pH. Both the tap and aquarium are testing at 8.4 now.

I recently had 2 bloodfin tetras die, but the 2 black skirt tetras and 2 oto's seem to be fine. I would like to add more fish but definitely waiting on that for a while.

My question is...since i moved exactly one month ago and for 4 weeks now the fish have been exposed to the higher pH water supply should I just see if they survive with this water supply? Or should I try to buffer the water using RO water mixed with the tap? The fish were fine until I moved and all the tetras have been alive for close to 12 months. So all of a sudden they started dying off after I moved and changed water supplies. I did not test the water from my old city, but I never had problems of fish dying off at all.

Would it be too agressive to try to lower the pH if the fish have been exposed to the higher pH for a month now? Any suggestions are appreciated. I asked about this before but now have verified that the water is consistently staying at a 8.4 pH. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

 

[hughitt1]

You could look into adding some peat moss to your filter which will lower the pH some. If you do it gradually (a little peat moss at first, then later add more) then you should be able to gradually lower the pH. The only thing is since your water is that basic to start with, you will have to always use peat moss if you start to maintain lower acidities, and monitor the pH closely to make sure there are no big changes. Driftwood may also have the same effect depending on the type. Another possibility (although not exactly the most convenient) would be to use rain water, or at least part rainwater. Rain water is more acidic and softer than tap water (in most places).

The fish may be alright in the water as it is, but if its not too hard, it may be beneficial to reduce the pH at least a little.

goodluck!
Keith

 

[Roan Art]

I'd leave well enough alone. A pH of 8.4 isn't that bad and except for a few species in specific circumstances, fish don't really care about pH.

I'd be more concerned about the difference in GH. How did you acclimatize them to the new water?

Roan

 

[Rbishop]

How are your nitrites and nitrates, since the move? Any chance of a mini-cycle from moving and how the filters/media were transported?

 

[b_dog]

thanks for the replies...

I'd be more concerned about the difference in GH. How did you acclimatize them to the new water?

The only new fish in the tanks are the oto's, and I let them sit in the tank with bags for roughly a hour with the water being mixed it.

For the move, I saved about 40% of the existing water from the tank in an ice chest with the fish in the ice chest. I then used my new tap water supply for the remaining 60%, let it get setup and get to room temp for about a hour. Then I poured the fish and the old water in to the tank.

How are your nitrites and nitrates, since the move? Any chance of a mini-cycle from moving and how the filters/media were transported?

The nitrates are currently at 20. Zero Nitrite or Ammonia present in the tank.

I don't think a mini cycle occurred. I used the same filter media and substrate. If a mini cycle did occur the fish only seemed to be affected at the end of the cycle as the two of them died right after I tested the water and the only thing noticeable was the higher pH. The two black skirt's color varies throughout the day, I recently changed my incadescent hood to a flourescent hood so they still are a little skiddish about the light. Is this normal?

Other than that I notice nothing wrong with the fish and I noticed nothing wrong with the 2 bloodfin's that died beforehand either. I'm thinking that I will continue to monitor it for another week and see how the fish do. Would the peat moss method be beneficial for the tetras to slightly/slowly lower the pH? Or would it make much of a difference.