Ph too high - need help!
- Thread starter akg
- Start date
Heh, I wish my pH was 7.5. that'd be great for my snails.
I agree with the others, forget messing with the pH, just use the tap water and if it stays stable then try getting more fish. Guppies can handle 7.5 no problem as long as its stable.
I agree with the others, forget messing with the pH, just use the tap water and if it stays stable then try getting more fish. Guppies can handle 7.5 no problem as long as its stable.
Once again thank you for all the responses. Today I will do a 3rd small exchange using only my well water. I'm getting a liquid test kit, and when I feel things are stable, I'll try some more fish. So far the 4 remaining tetras seem to be doing just fine.
akg
akg
They can handle a tank which swings from 7.0 to 8.0 and back again every 12 hours as long as TDS doesn't change.
Fluctuating pH being inherently harmful is one of the myths.
My 2 tanks' pH run between 8.2-8.4 and I keep guppies, angelfish, a variety of cories, rummynose tetras, diamond tetras, otos, and a dwarf gourami without any problems. The only fish I'd be nervous about putting in my water would be discus and rams, although I've heard reports of tank-bred specimens of both species that do okay in higher pHs than they've traditionally been kept at.
Another thing to consider might be the guppy stock. I tend to have high guppy mortality after purchase even if the fish looked healthy at the store. Guppies are pretty much the only fish I have this problem with - purportedly sensitive species like rummynoses and otos thrive, the supposedly hardy guppy lasts a day.
I finally have a respectable group of survivors and they're reproducing well enough, but I don't like to think how many didn't make it out of QT for no good apparent reason.
Once your water chemistry is sorted out, you may want to try getting a few large pregnant female guppies. Even if Mom doesn't make it, if she lasts long enough to drop some babies, you'll probably end up with some who make it.
Another thing to consider might be the guppy stock. I tend to have high guppy mortality after purchase even if the fish looked healthy at the store. Guppies are pretty much the only fish I have this problem with - purportedly sensitive species like rummynoses and otos thrive, the supposedly hardy guppy lasts a day.
I finally have a respectable group of survivors and they're reproducing well enough, but I don't like to think how many didn't make it out of QT for no good apparent reason. Once your water chemistry is sorted out, you may want to try getting a few large pregnant female guppies. Even if Mom doesn't make it, if she lasts long enough to drop some babies, you'll probably end up with some who make it.
I have a ph of 7.8 in my tank. My guppy just had babies. They were eaten by my rams, but she did give birth. I had bought 12 guppies, and she is the only one who survived. I have since bought another 2 pair with 2 additional females. What was the male to female ratio on your tank? Sometimes they die from stress. I try to keep 2-3 females per male.I think there is something wrong with guppy's in general that causes them to be weak. It could be all the breeding for specific colors has tainted the gene pool. If you arn't real picky on how pretty they are you might want to consider mixing in some wild guppys to strenghten the gene pool.
Hi --
I've followed the advice I've gotten and things have really changed in my tank. I've done all the little water changes so the tank should pretty much be only my well water at this point. I've added nothing - no pH anything, no algaecide, no nothing. I got my liquid test kits and here are the results now: the pH is up to 8.2, ammonia is zero, nitrites are zero, nitrates are 5.0, GH is around 53.7 and KH is 125.3. According to the information with the test kits, my tetras should be in trouble (test kit literature says they like acidity), but they're absolutely fine. Then again, you've all said pH levels aren't so important so long as they're stable - or that's what some of you have said. I mean to say that the general consensus is that pH levels aren't the only important factor.
I'd still like to get some guppies, but I don't want to commit fishocide. (And to respond to Jennifer C. - I never got females because I didn't want to get into breeding. I had guppies as a kid, and they had babies like crazy, but it was also a 20 gallon tank and my current tank is only 10 gallons.)
So - any thoughts on how the current environment in my tank might affect over-bred male guppies? Or any recommendations on other small fish that would do well in my well water?
Thanks again for everyone's responses!
akg
I've followed the advice I've gotten and things have really changed in my tank. I've done all the little water changes so the tank should pretty much be only my well water at this point. I've added nothing - no pH anything, no algaecide, no nothing. I got my liquid test kits and here are the results now: the pH is up to 8.2, ammonia is zero, nitrites are zero, nitrates are 5.0, GH is around 53.7 and KH is 125.3. According to the information with the test kits, my tetras should be in trouble (test kit literature says they like acidity), but they're absolutely fine. Then again, you've all said pH levels aren't so important so long as they're stable - or that's what some of you have said. I mean to say that the general consensus is that pH levels aren't the only important factor.
I'd still like to get some guppies, but I don't want to commit fishocide. (And to respond to Jennifer C. - I never got females because I didn't want to get into breeding. I had guppies as a kid, and they had babies like crazy, but it was also a 20 gallon tank and my current tank is only 10 gallons.)
So - any thoughts on how the current environment in my tank might affect over-bred male guppies? Or any recommendations on other small fish that would do well in my well water?
Thanks again for everyone's responses!
akg
Last edited:
Good to hear your tank is doing well akg!
I would maybe look into a local breeder if you are worried about your water. Most likely they are raising and breeding the guppies with similar water.
I would maybe look into a local breeder if you are worried about your water. Most likely they are raising and breeding the guppies with similar water.
