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New Tank

Fri, 09/18/2009 - 20:44 — pita16

Hi! I have 2 young parrot cichlids that I am getting ready to move to a larger tank. I have had the tank cycling for 1 week and all my levels are good except my PH is a little high 7.8. The current PH in the tank they are in is at 7.2. Can I do the move or is this to drastic of a change for them?

Comments

Wed, 09/23/2009 - 22:31 — Peanut

Re: New Tank

That sounds like a good idea. Since it's your substrate, raising the ph in the tank that they're in now rather than lowering the new tank's ph would be best. 7.8 is fine for your BP's. If it's the substrate, then the ph is always going to be 7.8. If you're going to try and lower it with the same substrate in the tank, you'll be fighting a losing battle. The main thing you want to stay away from is the ph always changing.

Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:49 — pita16

PH Level in New Tank

So if I can't get my PH to lower in my new tank and I have tried to add Distilled Water.............should I gradually add water from my new tank into my old one to slowly raise the PH in their tank so they get used to it? I think the culprit of high PH in my new tank is the substrate I used so I don't think it is going to change. Any suggestions would be great....I appreciate the help so far.

Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:49 — pita16

PH Level in New Tank

So if I can't get my PH to lower in my new tank and I have tried to add Distilled Water.............should I gradually add water from my new tank into my old one to slowly raise the PH in their tank so they get used to it? I think the culprit of high PH in my new tank is the substrate I used so I don't think it is going to change. Any suggestions would be great....I appreciate the help so far.

Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:48 — pita16

PH

So if I can't get my PH to lower in my new tank and I have tried to add Distilled Water.............should I gradually add water from my new tank into my old one to slowly raise the PH in their tank so they get used to it? I think the culprit of high PH in my new tank is the substrate I used so I don't think it is going to change. Any suggestions would be great....I appreciate the help so far.

Mon, 09/21/2009 - 00:43 — Peanut

Re: New Tank

Your ph will probably be different once the tank has cycled.

You can mix distilled water with the water you're adding to the tank to get the desired level. If my memory serves me correctly, distilled water has a ph of 5.0 up to around 6. So, mixing that with the water you're adding can give you the desired ph.

To cycle your tank without the fish in it, you can just feed the empty tank fish food daily. That will be enough ammonia to cycle the tank. Just keep checking the ammonia and nitrites. Once they are zero and you're getting a nitrate reading, the tank is cycled. At that point, check your ph and see where you're at.

Mon, 09/21/2009 - 00:18 — pita16

New Tank

I have put gravel from my old tank in the new one and then when I do my old tank water changes I add the old water into my new tank. I do not have any fish in the new tank to help it cycle, becasue I only have 2 BPs. Any suggestions on what I can do to lower the PH so it will be safe for them?

Sun, 09/20/2009 - 03:50 — Peanut

Hi Pita, When you say you

Hi Pita,

When you say you have had the tank cycling for a week. Does that mean you have a ammonia source in the tank? You could have a tank set up for a year. But, if you don't have a ammonia source to start the cycling process, the tank will not cycle.

If you do have a ammonia source in the tank, it won't be completely cycled for a few weeks. I wouldn't put your BP's in the new tank until it is completely cycled.

7.2 to 7.8 is a big jump and could shock your fish. I wouldn't do it at this point.

Please let us know where you're at and we can give you more specific information.