Questions about pH shock

WaterBaby

WaterBaby

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Sep 23, 2002
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I know that you must acclimate new fish to a new tank for temp and pH, but what exactly is pH shock? How does it adversly affect fish, and how can you tell if a newly acquired fish died from pH shock?

Reason being is I just purchased 7 neons and 4 guppies 2 days ago. I acclimated them to the tank by floating the bag and letting water from the tank into the bag a little at a time (took about 1 hour).

pH in the bag 7.4....pH in my tank 6.8. Today 1 guppy and 2 neons dead...

How long does it take for a fish to die from pH shock? Could this have been shock or something else. I got them from Petsmart and they said that their shipments of FW fish came in the day before I purchased them.

29 Gal (semi planted)
flourite substrate
pH 6.8
ammonia, nitrites 0
nitrates 10ppm
 
I'll look up the details, but it's effects can be quick. Fish like a stable pH, not a varying one.

Also, neons/guppies are known, IMO, as easy to die on transit to a new tank, let alone adding in they just had a big stress with shipment to the LFS.
 
I have heard that if there is a difference of one whole degree in the pH, say from 7.8 to 6.8 that you shouldn't buy the fish, you won't be able to acclimate it. I can acclimate rams from 6.5 to 7.0, it takes about a hour to 2. I wouldn't have thought the pH difference would have killed your fish.
Hmm.
Is there something else going on? Are you running any co2 - are your levels ok? Have you called Petsmart to see if the fish in those tanks are still ok? If they are, then it must have been pH. I assume they will replace your fish...

When you acclimate the next time, float the bag for 15, add 1/2 cup tank water ever 5 minutes until the bag is full. Then dump out 1/2 the bag and start adding 1/2 cup every 5 until bag is full. Net the fish and they should be acclimated...

Cathy
 
When buying fish from Petsmart or any other pet store, I always recommend that people wait at least 3 or 4 days after their shipment has arrived to buy fish. They generally lose a good amount during that time from shipping stress and acclimation, so by the weekend(if they arrive on wed.) the ones still there should be okay to buy.
 
Your right, dorkfish, the term pH shock is a generic, out dated term and the issue is Osmoregulation, the ability of fish to balance the water in their bodies with the water around them.

While there are probably many factors that contribute to the ability to do so, the major players are temperature, salinity, pH and TDS. Thus a need to make any transit on the parameters slowly so as not to cause osmotic shock.
 
rbishop said:
Your right, dorkfish, the term pH shock is a generic, out dated term and the issue is Osmoregulation, the ability of fish to balance the water in their bodies with the water around them.

While there are probably many factors that contribute to the ability to do so, the major players are temperature, salinity, pH and TDS. Thus a need to make any transit on the parameters slowly so as not to cause osmotic shock.
Click to expand...

I've also read that it's not the pH that the fish have a problem with, it's what is causing the pH that gives the fish problems. For instance I've read that a 1.0pH swing caused by adding CO2 won't harm fish, however the same 1.0pH swing caused by adding something like baking soda or some strong acid can be lethal to fish.
 
vid...thanks for agreeing.
 
Thanks all. Got it!

Of course I had to look up "Osmoregulation", to get it in layman terms (most sites were very "techish").

I found a link that explains it simply:

http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/water/osmoregulation.htm

Is this a correct definition? I haven't lost any more fish since yesterday and I think the remaining lot are going to make it. I will take the "passed on" fish back to Petsmart and either get new ones or store credit.

Michele
 
Sorry, should have included a few links..but that is the issue.
Will locate my references and post for you.
 
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