[willertac]

I currently have a 10g tank with one adult Platy and two 6 month old ones. I recently tested the PH and it was at 6.6. How can I naturally raise this so my plates are happy? They seem "lazy" now, barely moving and sometimes sitting at the bottom of the tank. Can PH cause this for them?
The PH has been around 6.6 since I set the tank up in September. There is a bridge decoration that might be ceramic, as some have said that can affect the PH. Anything I can do for the fish without chemicals?

 

[Flint]

Have they been acting this way since you got them?

 

[willertac]

Have they been acting this way since you got them?

Originally, I had 2 female adults in one tank. They were very lively until a month or 2 ago. One died of unknown reasons recently, and she was acting strange like these too.

The younger fish were born of the deceased fish about 3 days after we got them. They lived in a net breeder in the main tank for a month or two, and then were moved to their own 10g with 2 snails. A majority of the fry died of scoliosis and were weak to begin with. I now only have 2 which are the 2 in the tank with the adult now. The 2 young fish are the strongest of their siblings, apparently, and I have noticed, the least abnormally shaped (they look normal). Now, one of them darts around the tank and all of them sometimes just rest on the gravel or mid-water.

The PH in their tank was different, somewhere in the 7 range. Did I just mess up my fish?
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[rsskylight04]

Sounds like symptoms of nitrate poisoning. Do you change water regularly?
For nitrate controll I recommend 50% water change every other week, or when your test results show a spike.

 

[willertac]

Sounds like symptoms of nitrate poisoning. Do you change water regularly?
For nitrate controll I recommend 50% water change every other week, or when your test results show a spike.

I'm going to change the water now, thank you.
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[rsskylight04]

Ph can affect health of fish as the adjust to it. Usual symptoms of ph shock are gasping at surface, frayed fins and flare up of lymphocytosis. Also fish will be susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections.
I NEVER recommend altering ph unless you fail to establish a healthy nitrogen cycle because of acidic tap water.
But... crushed coral and limestone will slowly raise ph over time if your water is very acidic. Keep posting so we can follow your progress and offer advice as needed.Thanks!
Good luck!

 

[Anshuman Awasthy]

the way to raise or control ph level is a driftwood,so try adding one.But if it dosent works go for a ph buffer or a ph controll system,but it may be quite expensive.....

 

[willertac]

I did a 50% water change last night and the fish already seem happier! What I think was the problem was a small thing within the filter that was meant to be bio filtration. The box says to not throw it out, but it never said anything about cleaning it. I lifted the filter's lid, and under condensation, in letters raised slightly and in the same color as the filter itself, it read "do not dispose bio-filter, but rinse as necessary." There was a decent amount of gunk on it which I washed away. And the water, which I thought had a tiny tint to it, is now clear. I haven't tested the PH yet, but will when I get home.

 

[Flint]

What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[willertac]

What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

Haven't checked those either...
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[rsskylight04]

Be careful Will, cloudy water is often a sign of biological imballance in the tank. I would encourage you to invest in a good test kit if you can. Or if not , take your water in to LFS to be tested.
Only clean your filter if the waterflow is restricted. That gunk on your filter piece is what we call biological filtration! Belive it or not, that gunk helps keep to water healthy, not clear, but healthy. Its good that you have gunk in your filter, tells me that your tank/filter is mature.

 

[Flint]

Be careful Will, cloudy water is often a sign of biological imballance in the tank. I would encourage you to invest in a good test kit if you can. Or if not , take your water in to LFS to be tested.
Only clean your filter if the waterflow is restricted. That gunk on your filter piece is what we call biological filtration! Belive it or not, that gunk helps keep to water healthy, not clear, but healthy. Its good that you have gunk in your filter, tells me that your tank/filter is mature.

I wouldn't hold very true to the gunk statement. I just cleaned out a tank that has been running empty with fish waste and excess food and the parameters were off the charts yet my filter was full of gunk.

 

[willertac]

Well, the water wasn't cloudy, it was just yellowish. When I cleaned the bio thing the filter seemed to pull waste more effectively. Before, when it was dirty, there were multiple times when I had to stir up waste and remove it with a net. I'm going to wait a few days to see if the filter really is better, or if it was just because I had just cleaned the tank. I think I am going to get a different filter soon, anyways.

 

[jpepe1]

Although platys like a bit higher ph I think you found the culprit in your filter. A twenty % weekly water change will get you right.I was concerned when you mentioned such a high percentage of the fry had curved spines.This has nothing to do with your care of them but indicates possible genetic flaws in your fish. This is becoming more and more common as these fish are mass produced. Good Luck

 

[willertac]

Although platys like a bit higher ph I think you found the culprit in your filter. A twenty % weekly water change will get you right.I was concerned when you mentioned such a high percentage of the fry had curved spines.This has nothing to do with your care of them but indicates possible genetic flaws in your fish. This is becoming more and more common as these fish are mass produced. Good Luck

I was left with one Mickey and one Sunburst out of 24

 

[jpepe1]

Highly doubtful you could have done anything to save them.In all honesty they probably shouldn't be saved as the genetic weaknesses just get passed on that way.If you have a thing for livebearers ( I do) look at the American livebearer Assoc. website.Chances are you can get some good quality stock for little more then the cost of shipping.While you are at it check out the platyies for sale at Goliadfarms.com,gorgeous fish with a great rep .for health.

 

[willertac]

What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

Sorry I took so long.
PH went to a more comfortable 7.2
Ammonia is at 1.0. (how to fix?)

I went to the pet store to test for the others because all I have are the ammonia and PH API liquid test kits. The guy pours my water into the little vials and throws out the rest of the water in the container. The guy then rests two of the vials on the little countertop they have in the fish section. We wait for it to develop. Some people ask another guy to help them with saltwater fish. This new guy proceeds to rest on the same counter the vials are on. Let's just say those tests were inconclusive.

 

[Anshuman Awasthy]

help me set up a nano marine tank

I wished to set up a nano marine tank but there is a budget problem can you tell me an easy and cheap way...............:---(

 

[Flint]

Either you aren't keeping up with water changes or your tank isn't cycled. You should never have ammonia present unless you are cycling. How often do you change your water? How did you cycle this tank?

 

[willertac]

Either you aren't keeping up with water changes or your tank isn't cycled. You should never have ammonia present unless you are cycling. How often do you change your water? How did you cycle this tank?

My mom bought a bottle of test strips.

40-80 ppm nitrate
Nitrite safe
Hard
Low to moderate alkalinity
Neutral ph

I haven't changed the water as often as I should have, I guess. The filter still isn't helping. I cycled a fish less cycle while running the tank for a few days until the readings were good.