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Grrr. Need help with current tank issues!?
75 gallon tank. All parameters were fine except pH @ 6.0. My fish have been living in this water for a while though so I wasn't so concerned. Now - I noticed some kind of sickness in about 6 fish: 1 eye cloudy, scales look like they have been scraped. Pet shop told me that it is likely a bacterial infection. I've treated with Miracyn for 2 days.
Uuugh - but I think I've messed with the water too much. I also added a buffer and it has made the water increadibly cloudy! The water was crystal clear before. I had already done a 20% water change before putting the buffer in - and then added the buffer when I put the water back in. After the water didn't clear up after an hour - I siphoned off another 10-15%. The water is STILL cloudy and now...all the fish seem to be hanging out at the top getting air bubbles! The filtration is great - breaking surface of the water. 2 airstones...
HELP? Suggestions? Tips? Pointers? It is making me sick to think I may be killing my fish! thx!
3 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Depending on what the fish are it's usually better to just leave the pH as it is. A tank thats stable at pH 6 is better than one thats fluctuating all over the place as you try and achieve some ideal pH with chemicals.
What is the pH of your tap water? Your tank pH will generally be a little below that.
As for the sick fish, what are your other water parameters? Even low levels of Ammonia or Nitrite will affect the fish, weaken their immune system and make them vulnerable to all sorts of infections. Likewise very high Nitrate levels will make them sick as well. The original infections indicate there was a problem with the water quality to start with, but it probably wasnt the pH.
You dont say what your water change routine is, but you may need to increase it. Water can be crystal clear but still toxic, likewise it can have an algae bloom and still be perfectly healthy for the fish.
Best thing you can do now is frequent partial water changes, reduce the levels of toxins in the tank and get them into good clean water. Dont do any sudden huge water change, it may shock them even more, frequent small ones are better.
Ian
- 1 decade ago
Check your pH out of the tap (or source water) and compare that to the tank. If the pH is close ~0.2 difference, then do a 50% water change. If your tap water is more like 7.5 then you need to start doing 20% water changes every day until your tank and tap (source water) have the same pH.
Also, do ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests. If you have ammonia or nitrite at any detectable level, then this is most likely the cause of your fishes' problems. Nitrate should be 40 ppm or less. These metabolic wastes lower the pH of your water over time, so it is important to perform a weekly water change of at least 25%. If your water is very soft then your have little buffer against pH change and should do partial water changes more often. This will also help with the murky water. And don't put any pH ups, downs or buffers into the tank (except maybe Lake Malawi salts if you have hard water fish) it mostly just stresses the fish out.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Did you read the buffer instructions? Contacat PetSmart or Petstore website.
