PH strips

Thanks everybody for the help...............This is where I stand right now.........I just bought the fresh water kit. (got the $13.50 internet deal too ;) KRIPES it would of been $29. what a difference) Anyway I just did the high ph test. the color chart goes from 7.4 to 8.8.............I am just a shade darker than the 7.4.........I am guessing im about 7.5...............Maybe I am not as bad off as I thought last night......But remember were talking african cihlids here..................Does anybody know how I can raise it up without chemicals?............What should my next step be?
 
OMG I just did the same test on my tap water and it is reading about 8.0............................This tells me I need to do a major water change......................I did about a %20 a few days ago........................................Should I do maybe a %50 tonight? Or maybe a %20 a few days in a row?..................Im gonna wait and see what some of you pros. say.........If nobody is online tonight im gonna just do a %20...then recheck ph...............thanks again everybody for your help................................................................................................................................................I know just fish but I love them little *******s :rolleyes:
 
First thing I want to say is to relax. You are making a bigger deal out of it than it actually is. Yes you do have africans and yes they do prefer a higher ph. But a slight ph drop over time will not harm them. They can actually live fine at a lower ph.

The ph strips are about as accurate as the liquid. The strips just end up costing more in the long run. To get your ph back up. Just do your water changes a little more often until it settles back at the higher ph. In stead of every other week do about 20 percent every 2 or 3 days.

Now lets also look at some possible causes of the low ph. Not enough water changes, a lot of dirt and waste in your gravel, dirty filters, over crowding and/or over feeding. The cause can be one or a combination of what I just mentioned. good luck
 
Are you measuring your tap water straight from the tap? If you are then I have heard hear that might not be accurate, put it in a bucket or container and put an airstone in it for a while. I dont really know what all causes this, maybe someone else can explain it - I havent realy ever measured my tapwater though I probably should just to see. I know cold water will retain more gasses, once it heats up to tropical temps (or agitated by an airstone)it might gass-off these, and do you have chlorine in your water?
 
loaches r cool said:
Are you measuring your tap water straight from the tap? If you are then I have heard hear that might not be accurate, put it in a bucket or container and put an airstone in it for a while. I dont really know what all causes this, maybe someone else can explain it - I havent realy ever measured my tapwater though I probably should just to see. I know cold water will retain more gasses, once it heats up to tropical temps (or agitated by an airstone)it might gass-off these, and do you have chlorine in your water?
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I did not know this. I will do what you say. However I bought one of those freashwater master test kits and my ph is higher than I thought. I am reading almost 7.8 with 0 ammonia. I have been doing a %20 water change every other day for last 3 days. My fish seem fine. I think I had my "panties in a wad" over nothing. Thanks everybody for the help. B.T.W. I just droped a clown in my 20 gal. with 2 damsels about 24 hours ago and left them in the dark for most of the time. Had the lights on for over 5 hours now and everybody is getting along :p: I dont think theres gonna be a GEE_HAA.........................Had to have a clown :cool:

thanks again everybody
 
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