MyFishkies

I just moved and so my fish have been very displaced...but very patient. They've been in my backup 10g tank since Monday...it started leaking so it's in the bathtub, only 1g every few days so it's been fine for this week. Anyway, their original tank is ready, planted, heated, water treated. I've tested the water 4 times today. All readings are fine except pH which is between 7.8 and 8.2. Never had it that high and the water in the tank they're in now is from the same source but it's pH is fine, neutral. Everything in the tank is from their original tank except I used black sand instead of gravel.

Is it safe to transfer my fish? Why is the pH so different? And what should I do to fix it?

Many thanks!

Shawnie

No dont transfer them as they will have a huge ph shock.....have you tested your new tap water? letting the tank sit for 24 hours then retesting should give you more of a true reading....once you test tomorrow, you will know the next steps to take for a proper acclimation and how long it takes you to acclimate them...put a dash of fish food in the empty tank tonite to keep the bacteria alive....

MyFishkies

Ok thank you. I just hate them staying in the backup tank. There's nothing in it. I'll test my tap water, but both tanks were filled here. I read somewhere that sand raises the pH so that's probably it.

What about if I chemically lower the new tank slightly and chemically raise the one they're in so the two are closer? Right now they're in pH of around 7-7.2 and, as I said, the new tank is right around 8.

Shawnie

using chemicals to mess with the ph is not a good idea..its too drastic and fish dont tolerate chemicals at all...did you recently fill the new one? and how longs the old one been filled? a true ph is one that sits for a day or so then test...what type of sand did you add?

MyFishkies

I just filled the new one yesterday and added a heater today. The old one, they've been in since Monday. I bought aquarium sand from Petsmart. Not sure of the brand.

Here's the sequence of events: since may they've been in the same tank. I had to move quickly so I syphoned half the water, moved them (I know, shouldn't move a tank with water in it), then bought a new tank. Took some water from the original tank, same plants and set up a new tank. Readings all fine. Set up the new tank Monday and acclimated and transferred the fish that night. Then realized the new tank leaked, otherwise I would leave them in it. Cleaned their original tank (no chemicals or detergant, but I had a huge snail problem that I needed to fix) and planted it yesterday. Filled it today

So, they've been in the tank they're in since Monday and their new (original) tank was ready today.

Of course, none of this was ideal but I had to move so I did the best I thought I could. Now I just want to get them back into their home. And I'd like to get my bathtub back.

Shawnie

you are doing your best..dont doubt that
did you use something to fix the "snail problem" ? again, where its newly filled up , and you messed around with plants and such today, give it one more day to settle....if and then its not lowered anymore, you are going to have to acclimate them very slowly so they can adjust to the ph ....heres a great link http://www.fishlore.com/acclimating-tropicalfish.htm and if its still much higher, you would want to take a couple hours to acclimate to be safe ......im sure we have other members that have had this issue and can help more I hope!

MyFishkies

Thanks for the help. Nope, nothing else to fix the snail problem. Just paper towels and a lot of gross work. I'll wait till tomorrow. Thanks again. Can't wait to get my fishkies back to their home.

Shawnie

your welcome and I wish you tons of luck!

aquarist48

Hello. Hate to hear you are having pH issues. I have them as well at times. My well water pH is so high it's off the charts. Anytime I start a new tank I use a mixture of tap and distilled water to get the level that I hope for lol. It works for me Once my pH in the tank is at an acceptable range from there on out I use strictly tap that has been prefiltered for 10 days. I do not recommend adding distilled water to an established tank with fish in it. It could lower your pH drastically fast and be fatal.

Once your fish are acclimated to the new pH levels, your tap water should be fine in my opinion. Most fish will adapt to the pH levels that we have to offer, but not all. I would not chemically adjust your pH levels. Too risky and your pH could actually crash.
Just thought I'd share
Best of luck (great information in above posts)
Ken

MyFishkies

Well, following everyones advice I retested both tanks today...the new planted tank pH dropped 1 level on the test strip and the temp tank the fish are in now tested almost the same as the new tank, so I think it's safe now to transfer my fish since there's not much difference. Yay!

Thank you everyone

Shawnie

awesome ..im glad things are looking up..and im going to suggest getting an API liquid master kit as test strips are very notorious for giving false readings and lead you to believe something is ok when its not good luck with the new tank!

Tony G.

Great advise given up there
all i can say is Welcome to Fishlore!