karona100

Please help me! I had a major infestation of snails in my 35-gal freshwater tank where I have one Parrot fish and numerous platys and mollies. To get rid of them (I mean there were THOUSANDS of them!), I took out all the fish, put them in a tank with the existing water, removed all of the gravel where the snails were breeding, and when the water became so muddy from it, I emptied the tank completely. Put in fresh water, treated it, mixed in some of the existing freshwater, all measured well so I put the fish back in. This morning, the pH had spiked to 7.6 (it had previously been 6 - 6.6 on a regular basis). Unfortunately, I didn't know the results it would have on my water: I put in two packets of Proper PH 7.0. It regulated the ph level but now my tank is so cloudy!! My parrot fish's color is pale-ing!! Should I take him out and put him in new water where the ph level will be higher, but the water is clear? Or is it best to simply leave him in this cloudy tank I replaced 25% of the water but it only made it worse. What can I do?? Please respond ASAP. Current levels are: ammonia 0ppm; nitrite 0ppm. PH: 7.0. Thank you.

thorpbrian

First off welcome to fish lore.

Second, the less chemicals you use the better. Most fish will acclimate to any ph between 6 and 8 as long as it is constant. I would leave the fish where they are for now as a rapid ph change in other water would be even more stress on them.

My guess is that you killed too much of your beneficial bacteria in your tank and are now going through a mini-cycle.

What are your nitrate readings? What kind of test kit are you using? How long has the tank been set up? What is your ph out of your tap? Were you using any buffers in your tank to keep the ph between 6 and 6.6 (driftwood, peatmoss)?

Answering the above questions will help us give you better advice.

aquarist48

Hello Karona and Welcome to Fish Lore.
Here is a link that you may find helpful concerning pH levels:
Properly Maintaining the pH in a Freshwater Aquarium - Rate My Fish Tank
I would recommend avoiding all chemicals that adjust pH levels. They are very unstable and can even cause your pH to crash resulting in fish loss. As stated above most fish can adapt to the pH levels right from the tap.
Personally I would suggest a 50% water change without the pH adjusters "IF" your tap pH is not lower than the pH in your tank. Sudden changes in pH levels can be fatal.
A link concerning acclimation:
Acclimating Tropical Fish to Your Fish Tank
The above link will be helpful as well.
Best wishes.
Ken