Ph too high - need help!
- Thread starter akg
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Well, I have 4 tetras, 2 glow fish (danios, I guess) and 2 guppies - that's only 8, and they're all very little. So you're saying I could get 3 or 4 female guppies and not have a problem. Anyway, so far, the guppies are doing just fine. I'm so happy! Again - that you all for helping me solve the problem!
akg
akg
First - I have 2 neon tetras, 1 black neon, and 1 gold tetra.
Regarding nitrate levels - last week, I tested the water 2 days after an exchange, and then the day before I planned to do my weekly exchange. It was the same - the nitrate level was 5. Perhaps I don't need to do weekly exchanges, however, this way I feel like I can keep the gravel from getting too dirty, because even doing 40-50% exchanges, there's still gunk left behind that the siphon doesn't get up. I don't mind doing it on a weekly basis, I just don't really want to have to do it more than that.
Regarding nitrate levels - last week, I tested the water 2 days after an exchange, and then the day before I planned to do my weekly exchange. It was the same - the nitrate level was 5. Perhaps I don't need to do weekly exchanges, however, this way I feel like I can keep the gravel from getting too dirty, because even doing 40-50% exchanges, there's still gunk left behind that the siphon doesn't get up. I don't mind doing it on a weekly basis, I just don't really want to have to do it more than that.
just my thoughts but i would not be in a hurry to add more fish. you have doubled the tank load and i would let it sit for a couple weeks to make sure the extra feeding is not creating a slow build in extra ammonia and give the biofilter time to catch up to the new load for sure. i would think it will take a while for the new feeding and waste levels to have a full effect on the tank. if nothing else the rate your nitrates increase should go up when everything stableizes from the new fish load. if you can go your full time between water changes as normal when it levels off without getting close to 40 ppm nitrate then you should be able to add more fish just strictly on a filtering basis. as far as fish needs that depends on size and how active, territorial the fish are and there are others here with much more knowledge in those regards than me.
good job with getting your tank stable. hope everything goes well with your fish from now on. thse guys know their stuff for sure i always learn a lot reading their advice in these situations.
good job with getting your tank stable. hope everything goes well with your fish from now on. thse guys know their stuff for sure i always learn a lot reading their advice in these situations.
Well, I was bad this week and didn't get to do my weekly exchange. I tested the day I should have done it, and the levels were unchanged. I was hoping to have time today, but unfortunately didn't. So it's been 9 days - I just tested - and ammonia is zero, nitrites zero, nitrates 5, pH still 8.2. The extra fish don't seem to have made any difference. Is it time to get a few more fishies??
We had a tragedy today - one of the guppies died. I noticed he was sluggish this morning when I fed them. This guppy was always right there waiting to be fed, but I didn't see him right away this morning. Some mornings I've noticed the fish take longer to "wake up" than other mornings (I've seen the neon tetras look very pale at first and regain their color right before me eyes) so when he finally did emerge I thought everything was OK. But when we got home at the end of the day, I didn't see him. After carefully looking around, I saw him belly-up at the bottom. I immediately tested, and all the levels were the same, except the pH had crept up to 8.3 from 8.2. (Which is a mystery because I haven't added anything to the water.) I have a hard time believing that that's what killed him. The other guppy (a lyre-tail, and supposedly more sensitive) is fine. I was getting ready to add a few more fish, but now I'm not sure. Anybody have any thoughts? I'd be very grateful for any comments.
akg
akg
