HELP!!!! PH Problems!!!!

I recently bought a PH testing kit for my new tropical fish tank. Since the tropical fish tank won't be ready to use for a couple of weeks now I decided to see what my goldfish tank ph stats were like (i've never tested my PH in this tank before). They were on 7.5 so over the past week I've been putting ph down in the tank (making sure to follow instructions!) it's been a week and a half and so far no improvement. Also one of my goldfish which I've had for about three months is always floating at the top, he seems to have trouble swimming and when he stops swimming he just floats to the top. He is still eating and has been like this for about a month!! ??? ???

I really need to know what u think!! ;D

Thanks!!! AngelSta

 

As far as the PH goes I had a similar problem except my PH was 7.8 to almost 8. I used a PH decreaser which lowered it initially for a short period of time and then caused it to skyrocket back up very quickly. A fast changing PH is more stressful on the fish than letting them become acclimated to it. To help combat the problem maybe when adding fish to your new tropical tank use a longer acclimation method such as the bucket or drip method instead of the old float the bag to regulate temperature. That way the fish can adjust to the changes in PH a little gradually. I keep both my coldwater and tropical tanks in the very high PH and haven't had any trouble with it though it shocked me when I found out initially. I had more stress and disease outbreaks while I was trying to adjust the PH than I did leaving it alone.

Certainly hope this helps.

 

Thanks, so you think to not worry about the ph so much until it gets really high? ???

 

I don't think you have to worry to much about the PH changing on its own as long as you generally add water with a similar PH to it. I used to use bottled spring water for my smaller tanks but after testing both discovered there was a large gap between the PH of them, which shouldn't affect it too much if it is something like a 25% water change, so I switched to a different method. When the gallon water jugs were empty I filled them with tap water which of course was same PH that was in the tanks, added water conditioner and let them sit at room temperature for a while or used warmer water if needed. I have been using this method for about 6 months now and haven't had any trouble from it, but other members use a Python water change system for their large tanks and add water conditioner straight to the returning water and that seems to work fine also.

As for the second part of your original question(sorry forgot on first post) it sounds similar to a swim bladder disease which I know goldfish are prone to, however I have not had one of mine have it and have not treated for it. I think there was a post yesterday about it and after checking it seems theirs was floating upside down at the surface and most of the recommendations were to soak food before feeding and to feed peas which seems to help them with digestion. But it may be worth starting a new post on the goldfish board to help diagnose the problem and get more suggestions from those who have dealt with it before.

 

OK, thanks alot! ;D That information will come in useful! In the past I have just been useing our tank water treating it with Water Conditioner and something called AlgaeCure, do you think that method would be alright for the fish? Also I just tested the ph and the ph was on 7.0 i'm really happy now!!! It's seem to take so long for any result whatsoever!!!
Thanks for your help, AngelSta.
P.S. I'm new to Fishlore, how do you show everyone about your tank and the fish you have in it down the bottom of the page? ???

 

Alright just got confused, do you mean you are tanking tank water out, treating it with Water Conditioner, then putting it back in? I think I might have just misread that. I think as long as the water is new, either from faucet or other source as long as it has Water Conditioner added it should be fine. Not familiar with AlgaeCure I try to add as few things to my tank as possible, but certainly if you have an algae problem it shouldn't hurt. If algae is a problem try some live plants. I had some algae growth and bought some hornwort which is just a low light easy to care for plant(since I can pretty much kill plants just by looking at them) and algae is gone completely within about a week and a half time. My fish love it, competes with algae, and also sucks up some of those nasty nitrates, and in my case even with regular lighting is growing like a weed.

Far as the listing at the bottom that is a signature. Go to your profile, under Modify Profile click on Forum Profile Information, space for signature is at bottom. Just fill it in and it will be right there on the post.

Durn! sick molly at home :-[, guess I am headed that way. Hope this all helps.

 

The waterconditioner and AlgaeCure I add whenever I take water out (vacuum) and then put some mor water back in by bucket, I use the algaecure to stop the algae growing on the glass of the tank, but as far as I can see it hasn't had much of an effect :-\ oh well. Thanks for the help pn the sig.
AngelSta

 

Good questions and good answers
As for treating your water really all you need is a dechlorinator that takes care of Chrloine and Chlorimines. Even the algaecure is unnecesssary as water changes will generally take care of algae. When using a ph up or down product the ph will fluctuate perodically and this is stressful for your fish, stress lowers the immune system and then they get sick. Give your fish lots of clean water and a stable ph(by not adjusting it). Also goldfish like some veggie matter to keep their digest track open, try some veggie pellets or even green peas. Mine prefer the green pea.
carol

 

The waterconditioner is for taking care of the chlorine and chloromines, that's why I bought it!!!! Also do you think the goldfish will be able to eat the peas, do you have to cut it up? ???
The ph is finally on neutral!!!YAY ;D
Thabks for your help!!
AngelSta

 

You can use canned green peas, rinse a couple and peel it then drop the inside in the tank. If you use frozen you have to thaw and then peel. My one goldfish loves them.
carol