I have a puzzling problem hoping someone could make some suggests. My sister bought 4 barbs (2 rosy barbs and 2 tiger barbs) for a 5 gallon tank; yes, she was misled by the people at the LFS.....what a surprise!!
Within a week, one of the barbs died and she brought the fish back to petco; the water was tested and the ammonia was ‘off the charts’. Another sales woman informed her that there were way too many fish in the tank and either to get a large tank or return the fish.
She traded the barbs in for a black mollie and a marbled mollie. Prior to putting the fish in the tank, she did a 30% water change; she also put water conditioner, salt conditioner and Cycle into the tank. The transfer of water and fish was successful, except after 24 hours the pH dropped to 5.0. She did then another 40% water change and added the water conditioner, salt conditioner and Cycle. Sure enough, within 24 hours the pH went from 7.2 to 5.0 again. After this reading, she did a 70% water change and scooped up any excess food and feces (stir the water and scoop out); also, she also tested the pH from the tap water and it was 7.2.
Sure enough, within 24 hours the pH went from 7.0 to 5.0 again. So last night she did a full tank change; put the fish in a separate bucket, emptied the tank and rinsed the tank, gravel and plants. The only thing that was not replaced was the filter (Tetra Whisper); everything was returned and the water only had the water conditioner and salt conditioner (not Cycle). This afternoon the pH reading was 6.2. The tank was initially set up 3 weeks ago, but she did not have any pH problems until the exchanging of the fish.
The pH of the water from the tap is 7.2.
I’m hoping that someone has some suggestions to increase the pH.
Thanks. -Matt
Within a week, one of the barbs died and she brought the fish back to petco; the water was tested and the ammonia was ‘off the charts’. Another sales woman informed her that there were way too many fish in the tank and either to get a large tank or return the fish.
She traded the barbs in for a black mollie and a marbled mollie. Prior to putting the fish in the tank, she did a 30% water change; she also put water conditioner, salt conditioner and Cycle into the tank. The transfer of water and fish was successful, except after 24 hours the pH dropped to 5.0. She did then another 40% water change and added the water conditioner, salt conditioner and Cycle. Sure enough, within 24 hours the pH went from 7.2 to 5.0 again. After this reading, she did a 70% water change and scooped up any excess food and feces (stir the water and scoop out); also, she also tested the pH from the tap water and it was 7.2.
Sure enough, within 24 hours the pH went from 7.0 to 5.0 again. So last night she did a full tank change; put the fish in a separate bucket, emptied the tank and rinsed the tank, gravel and plants. The only thing that was not replaced was the filter (Tetra Whisper); everything was returned and the water only had the water conditioner and salt conditioner (not Cycle). This afternoon the pH reading was 6.2. The tank was initially set up 3 weeks ago, but she did not have any pH problems until the exchanging of the fish.
The pH of the water from the tap is 7.2.
I’m hoping that someone has some suggestions to increase the pH.
Thanks. -Matt