FishyPA
Goldfish Fry
Posts: 6
Posted: 1/2/03 10:45 am
Big PH crash... help!
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This morning, my goldfish was hiding behind a plant for an hour or so. I did a PH test and it came up that the water had crashed from 7.6 to 6.4!
I put raised the level slightly with PH Up and now he's swimming around fine. In addition to that I noticed that part of his fin is torn. The tank is still cycling, does the PH crash have anything to do with that and is there anything I can do to help the fishy from getting too stressed over it?
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Lahela
Senior Goldfish
Posts: 1239
Posted: 1/2/03 12:26 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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Okay a pH crash is BAD. It can kill your fish.
What do you have in your tank? Driftwood? Seashells? What kind of decorations?
Do a big water change and see if that'll bring it back up. Stuff like pH up and pH down are no good...they only last for a day or so and your poor fishie will just get more stressed with the pH bouncing around.
You need to get some sort of buffer in the tank. Baking soda will work(not baking powder)
I've not got any exact measurements for how much you should add to raise pH but start off with a teaspoon. Then test the pH after that see what it is and decide if you need to add more.
What does your tank setup look like?
~ Kristin
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FishyPA
I own a fish bowl
Posts: 11
Posted: 1/2/03 12:39 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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I have four fake plants and a rock decoration from nooppee... pretty much what was kept in the tank since I set it up almost a month ago. I did my usual weekly 20% water change on Tuesday. I use tap water which is like 7.0 and I raise it up with I guess is now bad, PH Up
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FishyPA
I own a fish bowl
Posts: 12
Posted: 1/2/03 12:43 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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Oh, and I used polished river rock instead of gravel
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Zeusaqua
This board is my second home
Posts: 401
Posted: 1/2/03 12:51 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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Do you use conditioners?
-Diane
"Unseen they suffer, unheard they cry, in agony they linger, in loneliness they die" -Please support the PETA in their fight to end animal abuse
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FishyPA
I own a fish bowl
Posts: 13
Posted: 1/2/03 12:54 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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StressCoat and StressZyme as well as Aquarium Salt
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FishyPA
I own a fish bowl
Posts: 14
Posted: 1/2/03 1:22 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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I just measured the PH level again and it's now 7.6!! That big rise can't be too good for him at all either. I am at a total loss here
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FishyPA
I own a fish bowl
Posts: 15
Posted: 1/2/03 1:24 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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oh and I only added a little bit of PH Up this morning so it shouldn't have risen like that. 7.6 to 6.4 back up to 7.6.
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jetman73
Who was first, the egg or the fish?
Posts: 138
Posted: 1/2/03 2:07 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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It sounds like you have a low KH(carbonate hardness). This is what is responsible for maintaining a constant ph. A ph crash should be taken very seriously because it can kill all your fish very fast. Just test your water for Kh and if it is lower than 30ppm you need to add a buffer. Remember, it is much more dangerous for fish too go from a higher ph too a lower ph. I would try the baking soda that many people here recommend but I have no experience with it since I have a kh of around 150 ppm and my ph stays at 7.9.
**Rob**
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FishyPA
I own a fish bowl
Posts: 16
Posted: 1/2/03 4:07 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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Ok, I did a KH test and it's between 35.8 and 53.7ppm. I did a third PH test for today while I was at it. It's now 6.8. So I guess I should give the baking soda a try. Is baking soda a good buffer?
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Lahela
Senior Goldfish
Posts: 1240
Posted: 1/2/03 5:12 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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From what I've been told baking soda works. It gets buffers the water and doesn't do all this bouncing around bit that some of the brands seemed to do. Not to mention no matter how much baking soda you add it won't take the pH over 8.2.
You could also try buffering your water with crushed coral. Just use it a filter media. You never have to take the stuff out...just rinse it every now and then to get any stuck gunk out.(And I'm not talking about coral right out of the ocean...I mean the stuff sold in stores specifically for use in aquariums)
~ Kristin
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kevkoi
Senior Goldfish
Posts: 1140
Posted: 1/2/03 6:36 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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Crushed coral or coral chips used in marine aquariums would make a good buffer. It's basically calcium carbonate. There's no exact ammount u should put in. Just put a handfull or two into a net bag or a stocking and either put it in your filter or directly into the tank. the calcium carbonate will buffer your water and keep the pH relatively even. Baking soda is like pH up... it's a quick fix and will raise your pH and kH up quickly. The kH frm the baking soda will eventually be exhausted and will need replenishing within a week or 2. Corals u will not need replacing untill they all completely dissolve... which would take years!
"Our hobby is about 'water keeping'. Keep your water, and the water will keep the fish."
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FishyPA
I own a fish bowl
Posts: 17
Posted: 1/3/03 10:52 am
Update
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Well, I put in the baking soda last night and this morning everything seems balanced out. My fishy still seems a little bit shaken up from the PH crash, I'm not sure if there's anything else I can do for him about that.
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fishfaye20
Contributor
Posts: 3349
Posted: 1/4/03 7:38 pm
Re: Update
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I think you should follow Kevkoi's advice Since your KH is that low you need to do something otherwise this could happen again.
~*~Faye~*~
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Genie100
Who was first, the egg or the fish?
Posts: 128
Posted: 1/8/03 12:30 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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The best product I have found...and I use it with EVERY water change is Gold Buffer from Goldfish Connection. I measure it out after each water change, dissolve it in a cup of tank water and dump it in.
I lost a fish to a crash. When your tank is new you ph will be whatever it is coming out of the tap. As your tank matures and cycles, the ph drops.....you NEED a good buffer to keep ph up...Baking soda will work briefly, but you will be adding it all the time. I only use Gold Buffer once a week with water changes and my ph is nice and steady.
Also worth noting...a sudden drop in ph will kill a fish....a sudden rise is not as harmful.
Genie
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g0ldfishgurl
I didn't cycle my tank
Posts: 52
Posted: 1/8/03 1:46 pm
Re: Big PH crash... help!
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Hi I too am a sufferer of pH crash.I did my water change...added baking soda...a half teaspoon per 10 Gallons.....when it reaches...the 7.4 or 7.2,may take a day....so dont over do it. I added crushed coral which will HOLD the pH there.....so far so good with mine..GOOD LUCK
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