handyfish

I am having fits with my tank. The pH will not change. I am using the 7.0 stabilizer and the test kit constantly shows high alkalinity. Also, there are a lot of mineral deposits on the lighthood. I figure that there is a high mineral content that is keeping the water hard and won't let me condition it. I use stress coat during water changes, and I tried using peat granules in the filter (all that did was turn the water brown) and nothing seems to help. I have lost 3 fish in the last two weeks and I feel it is the water quality. I am on city water and I do not want to have to buy bottled water and can't afford a RO filter. Anyone have any suggestions?

Chief_waterchanger

At the pH of 7.8 I would leave the pH alone and not try to fiddle with it.

It is fine for the fish showing in your aquarium info page.

Attempting to adjust the pH does more harm than good, in most cases.

Shawnie

ph is ok but whats the ammonia, nitrites and nitrate readings?

Butterfly

Fluctuating PH from trying to adjust it will stress the fish and cause tehm to get sick and die. A stable ph is much better.
Carol

handyfish

ok, I can live with leaving the ph alone, but what I am most concerned with is that the water is so loaded with minerals and chemicals from the water treatment facility that it is skewing the readings and my levels are actually worse than the tests indicate. I know my ammonia level is 0 PPM but I do not have a nitrite/nitrate test kit.

Butterfly

What are you using to test with? Most around here recommend API master freshwater test kit. The liquid tests are so much more reliable than strips.
Carol

handyfish

I actually am using both. I even got one of those in tank monitors (that doesn't work).

Butterfly

The liquid is by far more reliable, glad you have one of those.

I tried those also with the same result
carol

handyfish

Ok...I just went and got a full-fledged freshwater test kit and the good news is Ammonia 0 PPM, Nitrites 0 PPM Nitrates 20 ppm. The bad news is PH tests about 8.2. I can only assume the minerals in my water supply make affecting PH impossible. I had a peat bag in the filter for a week to try to soften the water and make it more acidic, but that didn't work. It only made the water brown.

Sigh.
I really wanted angels and cardinal tetras in this tank.