Masquinongy69
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2018
- Messages
- 12
Hey all ! New here ... kinda thrust into unfamiliar waters My wife decided that the kids should go see the fish at Walmart when she went shopping ... fast forward, the 4 year old wanted fish for her birthday ... I did what any noob would do and ask for advice on FB. Buddy sees this and gives me his old 55 gal with stand and bags full of accessories. So as I am documenting the cleaning of this older very dirty tank, along comes my daughters party ... A family friend shows up with .... you got it .... fish ! 2 black skirt Tetra and 2 orange platy. I dont have the tank finished yet ... run to Walmart and grab a 10 gal tank and some starter bacteria. Used the HOB filter my buddy had on the 55 temporarily. Finally got the 55 set up and filled. Prime in water. Pouch of bacteria. Move the fish once the temp is stable (moved the filter too with the bacteria media). 1 Tetra is stuck to the filter (passed). Next day stop and get 4 more Tetra (read they do best in 5's). Those 4 pass away overnight Had water tested - ammonia, nitrite, nitrate all fine - PH is high (over 8). Dont know why - tap water is coming out 7.4. Learn today that PH rises as temp rises and CO2 outgasses. Think I will need some wood in the tank to lower the Ph (ppl say dont use vinigar to do this). My Sunsun 304B came today (565 gph) - I got matrix, bio balls, and ceramic rings along with a roll of cut-your-own filter media and a bag of Polyfil.
Anyone have advise on getting the PH down ? I tested the calcium hardness with my pool kit - 250-300 ppm out of the tap and in the tank.
Anyone have advise on getting the PH down ? I tested the calcium hardness with my pool kit - 250-300 ppm out of the tap and in the tank.