Hi ph to low

[Boston Bill]

Hi All.

My 45 gallon tank is approx 2 months old.

This is a dirt tank, loads of plants. No filter and has 2 air stones going.

I have 3 platys in it and they seem to be doing ok.

I wanted to add some kuhli loaches.

Water parameters look good for them. 

Water Conditions:

73F-86F, 5.5-6.5pH, <5.0dGH

I got this from Aquarium Source. My Ph is approx 7.0. Is that too high for kuhli loaches?

What I am wondering about is the Hi ph reading. The Hi ph reading looks low? Below what the test system reads?

Shouldn't matter to the Kuhli?

KH is 4 degrees and GH is 6 degrees.

I forgot to add. I did the Hi Ph test 3 times. Looked the same all 3 times.

[Tony s]

On 2/27/2024 at 9:24 PM, Boston Bill said:

My Ph is approx 7.0. Is that too high for kuhli loaches

Not at all. Mine stay at 7.5 consistently. And there’s the key. The last thing you want to do is be chasing a certain ph. You’re best off using your tap water in most cases. That way it’s always consistent with little fluctuations. Almost all fish will adapt. The thing about ph ranges, most of the guides give you ph ranges in nature. Most aquarium fish are raised by hobbyists or farm raised not in nature. Most of them are raised in whatever water is readily available. Usually much higher than in nature. Figure most of the US is harder water with higher ph. Same with Europe and east Asia where the farms are. 
 

 

 

Your platys would actually do very well with ph around 8

[Boston Bill]

Thank you. I remember now. I just watched your YouTube video recently discussing this. Thanks again. BB

[Tony s]

Kh 4 and gh of 6 with ph of 7. If that’s the case you have almost perfect water. I’d only be worried about raising some of the African cichlids that require much higher values. With those numbers, even discus could be attempted 

John Hudson just put this out a couple of days ago. 

 

[Boston Bill]

On 2/27/2024 at 9:44 PM, Tony s said:

Kh 4 and gh of 6 with ph of 7. If that’s the case you have almost perfect water. I’d only be worried about raising some of the African cichlids that require much higher values. With those numbers, even discus could be attempted 

Cool. Thanks. BB

[lefty o]

7.0 is almost always good to go!

[NOLANANO]

On 2/27/2024 at 8:39 PM, Tony s said:

The last thing you want to do is be chasing a certain ph.

I just watched a video on a guy that went with a group studying the Rio Negro and they tested the PH at different parts of the river and found it ranged from 7.0 to 3.0 but the fish were the same species in all tested points. His point was that fish can live in different PHs as long as its consistent. its better to use the PH out of your tap than to chase a desired PH.

[macdaddy36]

On 2/27/2024 at 9:24 PM, Boston Bill said:

Hi All.

My 45 gallon tank is approx 2 months old.

This is a dirt tank, loads of plants. No filter and has 2 air stones going.

I have 3 platys in it and they seem to be doing ok.

I wanted to add some kuhli loaches.

Water parameters look good for them. 

Water Conditions:

73F-86F, 5.5-6.5pH, <5.0dGH

I got this from Aquarium Source. My Ph is approx 7.0. Is that too high for kuhli loaches?

What I am wondering about is the Hi ph reading. The Hi ph reading looks low? Below what the test system reads?

Shouldn't matter to the Kuhli?

KH is 4 degrees and GH is 6 degrees.

I forgot to add. I did the Hi Ph test 3 times. Looked the same all 3 times.

i keep kuhlis at 7.8-8.0. With most fish stability is more important than the actual value. Although there are some exceptions (livebearers, wild apistos, cardinal tetras, african cichlids, etc.)

Edited February 28 by macdaddy36