tubasavy Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 We were just given a fish tank last week from my husband's sister. The fish fared better than I thought, but my water test strips say that my pH is around 7.8 and that my alkalinity is high, at least 300ppm. My other exsisting tank has very hard water because I live in Utah I have the test strips to check what is in the water, but now I haven't the faintest idea what to do, or if it matters. Any help would be wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 What type of fish are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 and does your water match the alkalinity of the water the fish were in? Not sure if by "your water" you mean tap water or the new tank water. Has the tank come from the same area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubasavy Posted July 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 We used tap water that was treated and sat before being put in the tank. The way they transported the fish was by putting them in a large pitcher with their own tank water. Because all of the tank water was new I left the old (disgusting!) filter in for the first few days so all the good old bacteria could grow, and when I finally added the last fish (I did it over a short period of time) I added all the old tank water the fish came in. I'm not sure what all the fish are but there is one HUGE placastamous(sp?), 3 neons, 1 silver dollar, some fancy tailed guppy, and 3 others. It was a well established tank before it was moved. My In-laws (where the tank was) live about 30 min north of us, but definately at a higher elevation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandWilly Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 if the water has to high of a pH and to alkaline, it can cause the fish's scales to kinda melt off and there fins to fall apart, but 7.8 isn't to bad, except for maybe the neons and maybe the silver dollar not to sure about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me love fishy Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 I would check your tap water compared to the water in the tank now and if the tap water was a lower pH then do a partial water change, but I wouldn't be too concerned unless your fish are showing signs of stress, like raggy fins, cos some fish do like pH a bit higher than others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 like raggy fins Will a pH that is too high cause this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 What does high alkalinity to to fish? Well pH 14 (top end) is oven and drain cleaner, so not many fish would survive that. 7 is neutral, most fish can handle it a degree either side with no problems. South American fish come from very acidic waters, I think it's pH 3-4 because of all the peat in the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.