If the old guy's pH is really that low, there is the chance the tanks are in OTS, Old Tank Syndrome, from insufficient water changes over a long period pf time. Normal tank nitrification generates acid, so uses up the KH natural buffer in the tank if regular water changes are not done a a level large enough to balance it out over time. There again, he needs to test aged tap and tank pH, KH and compare. A nitrate test on the tank might give more good info as well. Real old timers did not grow up in an era of water testing - we had no water tests but pH and general hardnessby soap film generation. Big old fish, even in big tanks, are prime canadidates for OTS. Too large water changes too fast can shock the fish if the pH and KH are both low and nitrate is high. In that situation daily smallish (10%) partials are needed until the parameters start coming back into line with the tap water, then larger percentage changes can be used to bring the two (tap and tank) back into match without causing osmotic shock in the fish. There is no question that this is a chore - how are your sales skills? A salemanship job might be needed for a Python.
As a certified old fogy myself, I can promise I would have few tanks and those would be small if not for the Python.
As a certified old fogy myself, I can promise I would have few tanks and those would be small if not for the Python.
