so confused about PH.

[I must be batman]

I went to the LFS today to get my water tested and they said everything looked fine except the ammonia, which was a little high. But then I bought an API master test kit today so I went home and tested it again. The PH was 8.0, ammonia was .25, nitrite and nitrate both 0. What is the PH supposed to be? What about the rest of them? I have 5 mollies, 4 tetras, and 2 baby plecos. I'm so very confused.

 

[CaptainMako]

pH is the acidity of the water. Each fish prefers a certain level of pH but most will adjust to whatever you give them quickly.

 

[mudraker]

Your ph should be whatever comes out of your tap water.

Most fish will adapt to whatever your natural water parameters are. You current stock will be fine, though 8 is a fairly high PH level.

I'd be more concerned that you have ammonia in your tank.

You should probably do extra PWC everyday until the tank stabalizes.

As soon as you can, get yourself an API liquid test kit for home use. It will help you keep your fish happy and healthy

 

[EndlersEatGuppies]

IMO for a community tank a tank with 7.5 ph is fine.

Are u in the process of cycling your tank?

How many gallons is the tank?

 

[Mr. Limpet]

I went to the LFS today to get my water tested and they said everything looked fine except the ammonia, which was a little high. But then I bought an API master test kit today so I went home and tested it again. The PH was 8.0, ammonia was .25, nitrite and nitrate both 0. What is the PH supposed to be? What about the rest of them? I have 5 mollies, 4 tetras, and 2 baby plecos. I'm so very confused.

Are you cycled?

Ammo should come down thru PWC, and no2 should always be 0ppm, but without any n03, it sounds like you're not completely cycled IMO.

Ph is what it is and as long as it's stable (constant) you're OK.

 

[I must be batman]

Its a 45g tank, I've only been cycling it for about a week, but I did put some seachem stability in there for 7 days (but from what I've read on here I doubt it did any good). I tested my tap waters ph too. It was 7.6.

 

[EndlersEatGuppies]

The ph is fine!
Are you doing a fishless cycle or a fish in cycle?

 

[I must be batman]

The ph is fine!
Are you doing a fishless cycle or a fish in cycle?

Fish in. I didn't know there was such a thing as fishless cycle when I first bought the fish. (Another newbie not doing enough research, I know)

 

[Mr. Limpet]

Its a 45g tank, I've only been cycling it for about a week, but I did put some seachem stability in there for 7 days (but from what I've read on here I doubt it did any good). I tested my tap waters ph too. It was 7.6.

I recommend you follow the info in the link below. Woops, wrong link lol.

I just learned about cycling but I already have fish. What now?!

 

[EndlersEatGuppies]

I recommend you follow the info in the link below.

Tips and tricks for your fastest fishless cycle!

He is to late for that unless he returns the fish.

I recommend doing a %50 PWC everyday until u r cycled.

 

[mudraker]

I agree with Fishman

 

[Mr. Limpet]

He is to late for that unless he returns the fish.

I recommend doing a %50 PWC everyday until u r cycled.

hehe... Too many saved links and corrected.

 

[EndlersEatGuppies]

hehe... Too many saved links and corrected.

If that was rude i didn't mean for it to be.

 

[Mr. Limpet]

If that was rude i didn't mean for it to be.

Not at all, glad you caught it .

For the sake of his fishes well being he needs to follow the (corrected) link

 

[EndlersEatGuppies]

Not at all, glad you caught it .

For the sake of his fishes well being he needs to follow the (corrected) link

You may want to post that link again.

 

[Mr. Limpet]

Fish in. I didn't know there was such a thing as fishless cycle when I first bought the fish. (Another newbie not doing enough research, I know)

Don't worry about it, you're not the first and certainly won't be the last.

here's the link to help you with your fish in tank cycle:

I just learned about cycling but I already have fish. What now?!

 

[I must be batman]

Okay. Thanks. I read it and did a 50% pwc. Guess I'll be doing that for a few weeks.

 

[Mr. Limpet]

Okay. Thanks. I read it and did a 50% pwc. Guess I'll be doing that for a few weeks.

Yep, cycling with fish is tough, but it can be done successfully.

 

[EndlersEatGuppies]

Yep, cycling with fish is tough, but it can be done successfully.

I %100 agree!

 

[mudraker]

Many fish can survive the process, but they often will not live as long as they would have if they hadn't been exposured to ammonia and nitrite poisoning in the first place.