can Alkalinity kill or harm fish?

Question

ok so i set up my aquarium a week ago and it is doing marvelous only thing is that my alkalinity is still high and i can't seem to make it go down. I went to  Petsmart today and tried looking for Peat moss or driftwood or something to make the alkalinity lower but i couldn't find anything ( it is currently over 300ppm)...but if i ignore it and put fish in will it kill them or harm then an any way?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Are you planning on keeping South American species?

The Petco in my area sells precured driftwood.

Petsmart carries mopani wood in their reptile section. It is driftwood, but it does need to be cured. Do not mistake it for grapevine. This can be done by soaking it, or boiling it. This website is helpful-http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+6635+13985&pcatid=13985

Some people dislike using driftwood because it stains aquarium water the color of tea. Using carbon in your filter and curing it for a long time will leach out a lot of tannins and reduce this. Personally I don't mind it because the waters of South America are not perfectly clear, and the driftwood is ideal for anchoring plants like anubias of java fern.

hottamalee33 · Answer

It depends on the fish you add to the tank as some like  acidic while other perfer a more alkaline water.

Gabby B RIP Bubba Perez &amp; Sloane · Answer

Yep, any pH out of a fish' specific range can kill the fish, so unless you get a fish which can tolertate high pH, anything you put in there will die.... :(


ADD: you can buy a chemical from most pet shops called "pH down" :D That worsk really well :D

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can Alkalinity kill or harm fish?

3 Answers