Lowering PH ?

[fish don't sweat]

My well water PH is 9.0, my natural pond water is much the same. Does anyone know how I can lower it ?

Thanks

Mick

PS, I bought two orandas yesterday, they were the only fish I wanted from a selection of seven local fish stores. One looks happy, the other decidedly pissed off.

[fish don't sweat]

They both seem happier now that I have put them in a tank, I had them in a tub with an airstone until a couple of hours ago.

My first glodfish:)

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w315/Orriblebastard/IMG_1159.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w315/Orriblebastard/IMG_1163.jpg

[bekko]

Lowering pH is tricky and can get expensive. In the end, you may decide to just live with pH 9.0.

Do not attempt to use vinegar or the pH-down products sold for pool and spa use. It is just an acid which will lower the pH initially but then it will climb back up. The varying pH is much worse than a constantly high pH.

You need to check your general hardness (GH) and alkalinity (KH or carbonate hardness) to get a grip on the cause of the high pH. They are probably very high but you cannot be sure until you check it with a test kit. In most cases, if you can get some of the mineral content out of the water the pH will come down too.

Some people have had success using a household water softener. The water softener replaces calcium with sodium. A reverse osmosis unit is even better because it literally filters out the minerals.

But first, check the GH and KH. You will need the test kits later anyway to make sure you do not over-shoot and risk a pH crash.

-steve

[*Ci*]

Is it just me or does that second pic show something really wrong with the orandas?

Fungus spots? Missing scales? Cloudy wen growth? Or just bad photography?

[fish don't sweat]

Is it just me or does that second pic show something really wrong with the orandas?

Fungus spots? Missing scales? Cloudy wen growth? Or just bad photography?

I think it's bad photography. It's a job to get a good shot with air bubbles all over the glass.

How do they look in this shot ?

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w315/Orriblebastard/IMG_1166.jpg

[fish don't sweat]

Lowering pH is tricky and can get expensive. In the end, you may decide to just live with pH 9.0.

Do not attempt to use vinegar or the pH-down products sold for pool and spa use. It is just an acid which will lower the pH initially but then it will climb back up. The varying pH is much worse than a constantly high pH.

You need to check your general hardness (GH) and alkalinity (KH or carbonate hardness) to get a grip on the cause of the high pH. They are probably very high but you cannot be sure until you check it with a test kit. In most cases, if you can get some of the mineral content out of the water the pH will come down too.

Some people have had success using a household water softener. The water softener replaces calcium with sodium. A reverse osmosis unit is even better because it literally filters out the minerals.

But first, check the GH and KH. You will need the test kits later anyway to make sure you do not over-shoot and risk a pH crash.

-steve


I did not get GH and KH test kits, I did not knoiw I needed them unfortunately. Thus will have to wait till tomorrow.

According to the ammonia test kit the ammonia level is high, just like the PH. It is this way in the aquarium and in the water from the tap.

I also have a water softener but I get the same readings as above.

Thanks

[small_ranchu]

What is the tap water ammonia level?

[bekko]

High ammonia and high pH is a bad combination. Work on the ammonia first.

-steve

[afnaveils]

These orandas look like siblings with similar markings. Are they?

[fish don't sweat]

What is the tap water ammonia level?


It's almost exactly 2.4. I don't get mains water here, I'm hooked up to a well.

[fish don't sweat]

High ammonia and high pH is a bad combination. Work on the ammonia first.

-steve

That's just a matter of getting my filter running properly right ?

[fish don't sweat]

These orandas look like siblings with similar markings. Are they?

Probably, they came out of the same tank at a LFS.

Do they look any good to you ? They were the best looking fish that I could find in seven local fish stores.

[*Ci*]

They look way better without the bubbles! That was just weird.

[afnaveils]

Probably, they came out of the same tank at a LFS.

Do they look any good to you ? They were the best looking fish that I could find in seven local fish stores.


Your orandas have good color markings and good headgrowth. They are the slim type and not the bulky body type. I think they are from red cap spawnings because of the headgrowth. They make good red&whites. They are decent orandas in my opinion.

[sweetshannon]

That's just a matter of getting my filter running properly right ?

It is a matter of getting enough nitrifying bacteria established in your filters to remove the ammonia. The filters can be running fine, but there can still be ammonia and/or nitrIte in the water. It can take up to two months for you to have 0 readings. Frequent water changes are a must.

[fish don't sweat]

Your orandas have good color markings and good headgrowth. They are the slim type and not the bulky body type. I think they are from red cap spawnings because of the headgrowth. They make good red&whites. They are decent orandas in my opinion.


That's exellent news, I realise that to a certain extent beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I was not sure if my ideas about quality were out or not. Thanks:-*

[fish don't sweat]

It is a matter of getting enough nitrifying bacteria established in your filters to remove the ammonia. The filters can be running fine, but there can still be ammonia and/or nitrIte in the water. It can take up to two months for you to have 0 readings. Frequent water changes are a must.

That's more or less what I thought. The problem as I see it is getting the balance right between ammonia to feed the filter bacteria, and lack of ammonia so I can feed the fish. But on the other hand if all my water has ammonia in it, the filter should theoretically be ok. I bought some filter start up stuff, it's in the tank.

[sweetshannon]

That's more or less what I thought. The problem as I see it is getting the balance right between ammonia to feed the filter bacteria, and lack of ammonia so I can feed the fish. But on the other hand if all my water has ammonia in it, the filter should theoretically be ok. I bought some filter start up stuff, it's in the tank.

The fish will continually produce ammonia. Water changes may slow the cycle slightly, but they are very important so as not to kill the fish.
The filter start up stuff, if it was kept refrigerated, can be helpful. (If it was on the shelf, be careful. It won't help.) I have used Biospera. It can speed up the cycle a bit, but also caused me to have nitrIte spikes. They are just as deadly as ammonia spikes, so be sure to test every day. Salt can also be helpful when dealing with nitrIte. If you need more info, just let us know!
:Fish_tank:

[fish don't sweat]

The fish will continually produce ammonia. Water changes may slow the cycle slightly, but they are very important so as not to kill the fish.
The filter start up stuff, if it was kept refrigerated, can be helpful. (If it was on the shelf, be careful. It won't help.) I have used Biospera. It can speed up the cycle a bit, but also caused me to have nitrIte spikes. They are just as deadly as ammonia spikes, so be sure to test every day. Salt can also be helpful when dealing with nitrIte. If you need more info, just let us know!
:Fish_tank:


The filter start up was off the shelf. The blurb says that it contains live bacteria, but I was a bit sceptical of this as it does not stink. I did a 50% water change today, I was thinking of doing this until I get the filter established.

I hope to get my new fish outside as soon as the weather warms up a bit. I am going to stick them in a 175 gallon tub.

I'm sure I will be needing more info,you can rest assured I will let you know as soon as I do.

Thanks:)

[fish don't sweat]

I have noticed today that my orandas are getting very active, they are chasing each other about the tank and nudging each other. Does this mean I have two males ?

[mikroll]

I have noticed today that my orandas are getting very active, they are chasing each other about the tank and nudging each other. Does this mean I have two males ?
what you describe makes me think that you are half right.

[fish don't sweat]

what you describe makes me think that you are half right.

If I am only half right that would be perfect:)

[afnaveils]

Sometimes goldfish are playful. When you say CHASING AND NUDGING EACH OTHER, do you mean EACH OTHER or ONE chasing and nudging THE OTHER? The latter sounds like spawning.

[fish don't sweat]

Each other.

[cowiche ponder]

It's almost exactly 2.4. I don't get mains water here, I'm hooked up to a well.

You have ammonia reading of 2.4 out of the well water? Or is there a typo or am I reading something really wrong??

[fish don't sweat]

You have ammonia reading of 2.4 out of the well water? Or is there a typo or am I reading something really wrong??


It's not a typo and you are reading it correctly.

[fish don't sweat]

I have noticed that the ammonia readings are higher after rain, a couple of days ago there was virtually no ammonia but today it's really high.

My filter is now working really well, I get a zero reading all the time. Trouble is I am reluctant to change the water because of the high ammonia in the water I replace it with. The water in my tank is really cloudy but my orandas are looking great, they are getting really fat. I feed them at least 10 times every day.

Can anyone recommend food that will not cloud the water ?

[LePoissonRouge]

You need to find out why your well water is so contaminated. Ammonia is basically toxic waste from rotten decaying matter and it will burn your fishes gills and body.

[fish don't sweat]

The well is 175' deep. What goes on down there is a mystery to me, and even if I knew the reason why I doubt there would be anything I could do about it. Everyone in my area has terrible water. Last time I changed the water I used reverse osmosis water from the store. I might invest in a reverse osmosis system for the house, it's expensive but probably worth it.

[veryl]

When doing water changes, add your fresh water thru the filters. This will help remove some ammonia. Or add a algea type filter in the system plants feed on ammonia.