Kyle D Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 Hello, new to the forum here and I am at a loss. I have a 30 gallon tank that is cycled. It has been running for a little over a month and my level are: ph- 8.0 kh- 20 degrees ammonia at 0 nitrites are at 0 and nitrates at about 25ppm. I have currently 5 mollies 5 guppies 2 ghost shrimp 2 snails and 1 pleco. I have had some other fish that unfortunately have not made it including 2 gouramis and 2 loaches. I am at a loss as to why they died. They didn't show any signs of sickness. They stated to become a little lethargic and I treated the tank for bacteria and parasites and it didn't help.I have done research and am at a loss. Not sure if anyone has any ideas that might help. I have recently got a quarantine tank and will be using it if / when I get new fish. My LPS said my ph is to high but I dont really want to mess with it for fear of causing more problems. And im.pretty sure the fish should be able to adjust. Any help will be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 pH is to high for gourami's and clown loach like between 6.5-7.5 it difficult to tell with them not showing any symptoms i would lower you pH to 7.5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 Some of your rock could be increaseing your pH you could remove them and see if your pH drops Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle D Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 (edited) When you say rock are you talking substrate or the decorative rock around my driftwood? Also how would you drop ph. Should I focus on bring down the kh first so that in turn i can bring down the ph? I am currently working on bringing the ph down with a discus buffer agent from seachem adding the recomend dose every day until I see a change. So far no change yet. I'm on about day 2 of adding the discus buffer. Edited December 18, 2020 by Kyle D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 (edited) Decorative rock could be leaching mineral puting up your pH and kH removeing mite lower your pH and kH you could put almond leaves in and more bog wood to leach tannin to lower you pH Edited December 18, 2020 by Colu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle D Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Okay. I will remove my rock and continue dosing buffers and see what happens. Thanks for the info. Was unaware of rocks possibly leaching minerals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle D Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Thank you for the suggestion about my rock. I think you are right. Onec I got home from work I removed the rocks and tested them with my API nitrate test kid and they were bubbling indicating they are no good for my aquarium. Also noticed once I pulled them up from the substrate that the bottom of the rocks were blue. Which I believe is from dosing ich treatment to my tank and they absorbed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 I would stop adding in discus buffer now you have taken rocks out and see if kH drop on it own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle D Posted December 20, 2020 Author Share Posted December 20, 2020 So I have changed a lot since last update. I think I have all the problems figured out. Not only were my decorative rocks causing problems my substrate was also. So I have redone my tank and put new substrate that is not going to alter ph in. Thank you for.the tips and the great help. Had not suggested about the rocks I wouldnt have figured it out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 20, 2020 Share Posted December 20, 2020 (edited) Good to hear it going well Edited December 20, 2020 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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