Whats wrong with my freshwater aquarium?

Question

I have been changing water & adding chemicals & changing more water, but my pH & alkalinity are way too high & my water is VERY soft. I've done a complete tank change (all the water) tested the new water before adding it(it tested perfect by the way) but 48 hrs later those reading are off the chart again. Everything in my tank was bought at a pet store & is ok for freshwater. I've spent a small fortune on books & chemicals & nothing has helped. What am i doing wrong?

Answer 1

The problem may be that you're adding too many chemicals. Soft water and high alkalinity and high pH don't equate, either. Soft water is the absence of dissolved minerals, yet you need to have dissolved minerals to have a high alkalinity (and therefore, high pH).

Chances are, you fish will be fine in the water you have, unless you're keeping a species such as discus which require soft water. Despite what people belive, a fish doesn't need the pH to be exactly 7.0. Trying to get it there by using chemicals will only make the pH fluctuate whenever you do water changes, and if there's one thing fish need, it's a stable environment. Most fish are capable at living in pH from 6-8, and I've kept tropicals at a pH of 8.3 (the pH of the water right out of the tap). You'll also spend a lot less, and have better results with the fish. You may just need to acclimate them a little longer at the beginning, but if the fish store is near you and on the same water supply, they may be adjusted to the water conditions you have already.

Your fish store may not be telling you all of this, because then they can sell you more water "treatments" and new fish until you find out that adjusting you water chemistry is usually not advisable. If the water chemistry is at an extreme range, your best bets to change it are to use crushed coral in a mesh bag in your filter (will increase pH and hardness) or to use driftwood or a mesh bag of peat moss in your filter (will decrease pH and soften the water). Both these will change your conditions more slowly and be more stable in the long run, which would be healthier for the fish. Note that the peat and driftwood can tint your water brown.

Answer 2

The key to this question is: Why are you trying to adjust your pH and alkalinity? Are you keeping discus or wild caught apistos? If not, quit messing with it, focus on the nitrogen cycle and your fish will be fine. A stable high or low pH is much better than one that is fluctuating from all the junk you are putting in. If you are keeping those fish, email me and I'll help you figure it out.

Answer 3

did you use tap water? it's best to leave the water out in a bucket for at least two days. and when changing water, always leave a little bit of the old water. keep like, one-thirds.