is ph level just a recommended level for certian fish or is it a life or death thing? I have 2 zebra danios and a mollie as test fish (soon to be food) my ph level is 8.2 and they like low sevens and they are still alive, it has been a week now. 
ph level
- Thread starter clayspst
- Start date
Most of the fish we keep can tolerate a pH that is not considered ideal for their species.
If you don't have the ideal pH, it is better to keep a stable pH than to try to adjust it to some ideal level. When you try to adjust it, you end up with pH fluctuations that are much more harmful than a stable but not ideal pH.
What do you plan on keeping in your aquarium?
pH can be naturally and more safely lowered by adding driftwood to your tank or some peat in your filter.
If you don't have the ideal pH, it is better to keep a stable pH than to try to adjust it to some ideal level. When you try to adjust it, you end up with pH fluctuations that are much more harmful than a stable but not ideal pH.
What do you plan on keeping in your aquarium?
pH can be naturally and more safely lowered by adding driftwood to your tank or some peat in your filter.
Hmmn. Ph of 8.2? Personally I'd just go with an african cichlid tank and not worry about it. That being said yes fish can live in a ph that is out of their normal range. Most of them just won't be able to breed properly.
Now suppose I have the opposite problem. Everytime I check my pH (using a liquid color indicator, so I can't tell exact values), it is below 7. What can raise it to a more neutral level? Or, given my tank, is neutrality really necessary?
My Tank:
10 gal
1 Pleco
1 Bala Shark
1 Male Betta
1 Male Velvet Swordtail
1 Female 'Mickey Mouse' Platy
2 some kind of tetra mostly silver, red spot under each eye, black and yellow tail
Wisteria
Rotala Indica
Java Ferns
My Tank:
10 gal
1 Pleco
1 Bala Shark
1 Male Betta
1 Male Velvet Swordtail
1 Female 'Mickey Mouse' Platy
2 some kind of tetra mostly silver, red spot under each eye, black and yellow tail
Wisteria
Rotala Indica
Java Ferns
numa, welcome!! start your own thread you'll get more responses. You also might want to do some research on the fish you have, you're going to run into problems. The pleco, if its a common, and the bala should be kept in no less than 75g, and that is still way too small IMO.
clayspst said:is ph level just a recommended level for certian fish or is it a life or death thing? I have 2 zebra danios and a mollie as test fish (soon to be food) my ph level is 8.2 and they like low sevens and they are still alive, it has been a week now.
Its not a life or death thing unless you have some rare fish that lives in an extreem pH and there aren't too many. As said above, the fish should be ok since they prefer a stable ph over a specific pH.
NUMAtrekkie said:
It is best to start your own thread so that the person who started the thread can get their questions answerd.
As mentioned, the pleco (assuming its a common pleco) and bala shark need a big tank. Tetra's are best kept in schools.
The same advice applies to your tank as well. Its best to try and leave the pH as it is and now worry about the actual number, just that it is consistant. If for some reason pH is needed to be raised, its better to use something like a little crushed coral in the filter (will raise hardness too) than a chemical that is supposed to raise pH.