my ph is high but my guppy is still surviving ...

hI my ph is high but my guppy is still surviving and normally they die after a while wat is happening?

 

HI Sallie, and welcome to Fish Lore

Well, a lot of commercially bred fish (most of the fish that fish-keepers have) will adjust to a wider range of pH than they'd normally be able to adjust to in nature. But I'd like to ask you some questions first: What is the size of your tank? How many fish and what fish do you have in it? How long have you had this tank? What are your Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate readings?

 

HI Sallie, and welcome to Fish Lore

Well, a lot of commercially bred fish (most of the fish that fish-keepers have) will adjust to a wider range of pH than they'd normally be able to adjust to in nature. But I'd like to ask you some questions first: What is the size of your tank? How many fish and what fish do you have in it? How long have you had this tank? What are your Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate readings?

hI is about two ft
12 grown fish and 6 fry
I got it at christmas last year
nitrates is between 25 to 50
nitrite is 0
whats ammonia?
gh >16
or kh 0 o d

 

Sallie, Ammonia is one of the compounds present during the aquarium cycle. I presume you haven't yet learned about the cycle. Here is a link to get you started: https://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm - please take some time to read it and to understand it. It's very important to understand the Nitrogen Cycle in a fish tank. I'd recommend for you to read the rest of the Beginner's Articles as well: https://www.fishlore.com/Beginners.htm - after you've read all of this, you'll have an answer of why your fish are dying for "apparently" no reason.

Now, if your Nitrate is at 50 ppm, that's way too high. I personally would not let my Nitrate exceed 20 ppm. To lower your Nitrate, perform regular weekly water changes (of anywhere between 15 - 30%). Once again, please read about the Nitrogen Cycle. Of course, when you're adding new water to the tank, DECHLORINATE it first before pouring it to your tank (that is, if you're using chlorinated tap water).

Lastly, I know you've said you have 12 grown fish and 6 fry in a 2 ft. long tank. But once again, could you please tell me exactly how many gallons is your tank, and what kinds of fish are the ones that you have? Also, do you operform weekly water changes? If so, how large are they? And, how do you clean your filter and your gravel?

 

Sallie, Ammonia is one of the compounds present during the aquarium cycle. I presume you haven't yet learned about the cycle. Here is a link to get you started: https://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm - please take some time to read it and to understand it. It's very important to understand the Nitrogen Cycle in a fish tank. I'd recommend for you to read the rest of the Beginner's Articles as well: https://www.fishlore.com/Beginners.htm - after you've read all of this, you'll have an answer of why your fish are dying for "apparently" no reason.

Now, if your Nitrate is at 50 ppm, that's way too high. I personally would not let my Nitrate exceed 20 ppm. To lower your Nitrate, perform regular weekly water changes (of anywhere between 15 - 30%). Once again, please read about the Nitrogen Cycle. Of course, when you're adding new water to the tank, DECHLORINATE it first before pouring it to your tank (that is, if you're using chlorinated tap water).

Lastly, I know you've said you have 12 grown fish and 6 fry in a 2 ft. long tank. But once again, could you please tell me exactly how many gallons is your tank, and what kinds of fish are the ones that you have? Also, do you operform weekly water changes? If so, how large are they? And, how do you clean your filter and your gravel?

8.2 gallons
2 shrimp
5 platy
1 neon
3 glowlights
1 guppy
fry
5 guppies
1 platy

I water change every six weeks and its comin up to it as well
I do clean the filter sponge and they are at least half a tank

 

Sally, If you have an 8.2 gallon tank, you should perform a water change of about 2gallons a week. As Isabella said, make sure the water id DECHLORINATED. If you let the water sit for such a long time (you said six weeks) the ammonia levels have been getting too high. Do weekly water changes and you'll see how much healthier your fish will be. Once again, make sure to use FishLore's articles on Nitrogen Cycles and help for beginners. This will help you out A LOT!

 

Sally, If you have an 8.2 gallon tank, you should perform a water change of about 2gallons a week. As Isabella said, make sure the water id DECHLORINATED. If you let the water sit for such a long time (you said six weeks) the ammonia levels have been getting too high. Do weekly water changes and you'll see how much healthier your fish will be. Once again, make sure to use FishLore's articles on Nitrogen Cycles and help for beginners. This will help you out A LOT!

the fish people said to do 6 .but I don't no wat to do now
shud I do 6 weeks or 2 weeks
wat do u think

 

Have you read the article on Nitrogen Cycle? I know its long but it will answer most of these questions for you. As for six weeks or two weeks, think of it this way, would you rather go with out a shower for six hours or six days? The water you have them in is the same water they defocate in. This uncleanliness causes ammonia to rise. Ammonia is a poison to them. Do you want it to build up for six weeks or only two weeks. Although big water changes are good every other week on bigger tanks, smaller, weekly changes are better. Try the two gallons of DECHLORINATED water changes ONCE a week and see how it goes after a month. After all, clean water can't harm the fish, right?

 

Sallie, Ammonia is one of the compounds present during the aquarium cycle. I presume you haven't yet learned about the cycle. Here is a link to get you started: https://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm - please take some time to read it and to understand it. It's very important to understand the Nitrogen Cycle in a fish tank. I'd recommend for you to read the rest of the Beginner's Articles as well: https://www.fishlore.com/Beginners.htm - after you've read all of this, you'll have an answer of why your fish are dying for "apparently" no reason.

Now, if your Nitrate is at 50 ppm, that's way too high. I personally would not let my Nitrate exceed 20 ppm. To lower your Nitrate, perform regular weekly water changes (of anywhere between 15 - 30%). Once again, please read about the Nitrogen Cycle. Of course, when you're adding new water to the tank, DECHLORINATE it first before pouring it to your tank (that is, if you're using chlorinated tap water).

Lastly, I know you've said you have 12 grown fish and 6 fry in a 2 ft. long tank. But once again, could you please tell me exactly how many gallons is your tank, and what kinds of fish are the ones that you have? Also, do you operform weekly water changes? If so, how large are they? And, how do you clean your filter and your gravel?

hI I'm doin the water change ever week now since two weeks ago and I can see the difference all ready the first week was all dirty and I mean all dirty but then the next week is gradually gettin better

 

Sallie, I'm glad to hear your fishies are getting a cleaner house now. Congratulations and hope it keeps getting healthier for them.

 

Yes, you do want to keep on top of those water changes -- you have a lot of fish in a 8.2 gallon tank, and are somewhat overstocked. Regular water changes will help them survive.