Low PH

goheels1

goheels1

Medium Fish
#1
Jul 24, 2009
75
0
0
near the home of the 'UNC TARHEELS'
#1
My tank has been suffering with low PH for many months now. Went to LFS and was told to put a coral rock in the tank to increase it. I put it in the tank just now but now I'm thinking about it. Didn't think I could put that in a freshwater tank. Ok or not?

Also, one of my Rainbow Bosemani has mouth fungus that has spread to his body. Should I treat the whole tank or just him?

Thx for any help
 

goheels1

goheels1

Medium Fish
#8
Jul 24, 2009
75
0
0
near the home of the 'UNC TARHEELS'
#8
my PH level is btween 6.0 - 6.4. So is this low enough to cause my fish to have this fungus? Now I'm wondering if it's even really mouth fungus. My fish looks like it has red lipstick on. It also has the same red spot on his tail and under stomach. If I can figure how to upload pixs, I will.
 

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KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#13
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
0
Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#13
You need to do water changes, this would stop this from happening in the future to other fish. You really dont want you nitrate over 40, I try to change it before it gets to 20 but I have waited until 40 many times. This will also encourage you fish's growth and might even help color them up because high nitrate can cause stress.
 

O

OrangeCones

Elite Fish
#15
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#15
High nitrates will lower you pH. If you do frequent smaller waterchanges (I'd do 10% daily until Nitrate is under 20), the pH should return to what is 'normal' for your water source. Sudden changes in pH are harmful to fish.

This link is helpful to explain what may be happening: Old Tank Syndrome

So as not to shock the sick Rainbow, I'd suggest filling the hospital tank with the current tank's water, and do the same 10% daily water changes on the hospital tank as well. That way, it won't be a sudden change for the fish. A method I've used with good sucess is to fill the hospital tank only 1/2 way, and then ADDING small amount of new water to the tank. Like if its a 10 galllon tank, fill it to 5gallons, then add a gallon every day. At the end of 5 days, the nitrates will be roughly 1/2 of what you started with, and then you can do the water changes to bring it down to under 20.

Good luck!
 

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djm761

djm761

Large Fish
#16
Mar 21, 2011
190
0
0
#16
OC good post good link. Goheels1 this is all about water quality, as for treating the soars I,m not sure where I would start, maybe with Maracyn plus and Maroxy, they work well together. Good luck

PS: I wouldn't start treatment until the water issues are resolved.
 

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goheels1

goheels1

Medium Fish
#17
Jul 24, 2009
75
0
0
near the home of the 'UNC TARHEELS'
#17
Thanks so much for the info. I will start the 10% daily change to help with the Nitrate. Only thing, I already put him in the hospital tank using Triple Sulfa medicine b4 seeing you all's latest post. Hopefully he will be ok.

Thx OC & djm for those links.

Oh, another thing. Since I'm bad at water changes; should I be sweeping the gravel with every change or just take out the water?
 

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OrangeCones

Elite Fish
#18
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#18
goheels1 said:
Oh, another thing. Since I'm bad at water changes; should I be sweeping the gravel with every change or just take out the water?
Click to expand...
I would always vac the gravel when taking out the water. Doesn't take any more time, just a little more effort. Sorta like a cat's litter box: if you only take out what's on top, its still has waste under the litter you can't see. So, bottom line, dig and scoop (or in this case, gravel vac with water changes).

In my experiece, 95% of illness in fish can be prevented with lots of clean water. I've 'rescued' may fish from friends and their formerly chronically ill aquarium functions just fine with proper water changes.
 

KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#20
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
0
Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#20
Vacuuming exports a lot of the stuff that causes high nitrate. So by vacuuming regularly you will be able to less water changes to keep the nitrate in check. All that stuff in the substrate and bottom of the tank rot and bad water parameters so its best to get rid of it. Do you have any pics of the rainbows, those are beautiful fish. Your QT fish should be just fine but be sure to keep any eye on the ammonia in that tank. Most meds kill the good bacteria in the tank so daily water changes may need to be done.
 

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