ph question

[bjones376]

Ok here's my setup 55gal 1 aquaclear 70 and a aqueon 50 adding a canister soon I have 3 Bala sharks 2 clown loaches 3 yellow labs 4 other cichlids can't remember the name they're a blue with black stripes and yellow on the dorsal fin and 2 koi angels my ph stays steady at 6.8-7.0 I know the cichlids like a higher ph I've done all kinds of research some say keep ph high some say the fish will adapt to it so my question is how much of a factor is the pH and if I pit crushed coral in a media bag and hung it in the tank would that help raise it?

 

[lilme]

try adding some rocks if there from outside boil them first they will rais it a little try to get ph about 7-7.5

 

[mikem691]

Problem I see here is the loaches and angels are lower ph and the Africans are higher ph. I would leave the ph alone and work on a better stocking.

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[CoronaBlue]

How's that stock working out? Reading your fish list raises red flags.

 

[notenoughtanks]

Balas are gonna need a bigger tank as they get older


125gal Waiting for C/A cichlids , 55gal African Cichlids , 75gal "wet pet "oscar , 75 gal empty setting up for ????10gal & 56gal column cycled but no stock

 

[bjones376]

As of now my stock is doing good they all get along with each other tank has been up and running for just over 2 month's as for the balas yes I know they will outgrow the as will the loaches my lfs a already said he'd take them on trade once they get too big

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[SonicsDC25]

try adding some rocks if there from outside boil them first they will rais it a little try to get ph about 7-7.5

You can't just grab any rock outside and expect the pH to go up, it needs to be SPECIFIC rocks like Limestone that will help buffer the pH; whereas a regular river rock will just be for decoration and has no real benefit to water quality. As for the stock, I'd re-think it and go with a group that has similar water requirements, rather than all over the place.

 

[gilpi]

It's tough to give advice on pH when you have a stock like that. The Angels might have a tough time with too high a pH and also a tough time as well with the african cichlids, not sure how that mix will workout.

But anyway, to the topic... Crushed coral in a bag in the filter might bring the pH up a little.

+1 on the rocks, any rock from outside most likely will not do anything to the pH and please DO NOT boil rocks.


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[sinibotia]

Those clown loaches are gonna need a way bigger tank, and theyre not going to appreciate high pH. I'm going to echo what others are saying, your stocking needs a lot of work. You've mixed a lot of fish that don't belong together in that tank for a lot of reasons- your african cichlids are very likely to bully all your other fish, and in particular your angelfish. Bala sharks and clown loaches get way too big for a 55. The loaches and angelfish want low pH, the african cichlids want high pH. No good solution that involves keeping all those fish in that tank.