API Proper pH - Cloudy Water?

B

Bgolfer88

AC Members
Feb 17, 2010
266
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16
Virginia
2 tanks.
Tank One- 29 Gallon, Whisper 10i and Whisper 40, 40 gal air pump, Gravel/Plastic Plants. 2 yellow gourami, 5 mtn. red belly dace, young peacock eel, API aquarium salt (normal dose).
Tank 1- 10 gallon, Whisper 10i (modified filter), Top Fin 10, 10 gal. air pump, no gravel, heater (approx 78 degrees), API aquarium salt double dose. 6 fancy guppies.

All parameters have been fine except that I have basic tap water and my pH was around 6.2. I have had a couple guppy death every once in awhile. So, I decided to try to fix pH. I've heard fish can usually acclimate to pH levels from 6.0-8.0, but I decided to meddle.
My water turned cloudy about a later and I can only link it to the API Proper pH 7.0 I used. I changed the water in the 10 gal. and I admit I changed alot, prob. around 70%. But I filled it up with water from my 100 gal thinking I may have damaged the bacteria in my tank. I was hoping to maybe get some new colonies going by using well cycled water (100 gal water was immaculate).
Initially this helped but its turning cloudy again and the fish don't look happy. I just treated it with prime. I never touch the 29 gal and it is clearing up nicely.
When the water turned cloudy in the tanks I think I noticed a small spike in nitrates but it may have been that I can't tell the difference in colors sometimes. So,

-Did I hurt the bacteria colonies?
-Use too many chemicals?
-Any idea why the water turned cloudy?
-Comment/Critiques?

Thanks.
 
What I learned is that when using pH stablizers, it is better to adjust the pH close to stablizer intended.
For example, if youre using Proper pH 7, wait until tank water's pH is adjusted to 7 before using Proper pH which will give better results in stablizing (buffering) desired pH than tank without Proper pH.
These pH tab/powder is not pH adjusters although you may see temporary changes in pH.

Clousiness may have resulted from use of Proper pH as well as WC, especially massive one or both.

Try small disturbances at a time if and when possible

As long as no NH3/NO2 present, I would not wory about BB.

What is present pH/NH3/NO2?
 
In general, playing with pH will lead to trouble in most cases. If you had just one death every so often I wouldn't really blame the pH. By the time most fish get to your home through the local fish store, they are pretty adjusted to the local water conditions. I would used more of a crushed coral approach than chemicals to adjust the pH. Safer IMHO
 
It sounds like you used too much of the Proper pH. The water will clear up within a day with a strong filter. If I remember correctly, over dosing with this stuff will raise the phosphates that could lead to algae bloom.

captaincaveman9 said:
In general, playing with pH will lead to trouble in most cases. If you had just one death every so often I wouldn't really blame the pH. By the time most fish get to your home through the local fish store, they are pretty adjusted to the local water conditions.
Click to expand...

I agree with the above quote. It will be an ongoing battle that requires constant monitoring. The pH rollercoaster will stress and kill fish. But if you must adjust the pH, API makes a liquid form to adjust the pH- http://www.bigalsonline.com/Fish_Additives_pH-Buffers-Controllers_pH-Up_9767681_82.html?tc=fish. I have used this product years ago in a much larger bottle and found that it works fast. Then you can lock it in with the Proper pH. This may give you more control without affecting the appearance of the water.
 
Most experienced hobbyists do not use ph stabilizers. Why pay for and use chemicals when you don't need to? Many times it will create a ph swing and if you then change a lot of the water without using another dose, then there is another swing. 6.2 is nothing to be concerned about IMO. That would actually be quite good for many fish. If you want, you can slowly add crushed coral as suggested above or a calcium feeder block.
 
I would not consider 6.2 an ideal pH for guppy/most common livebearers. I would consider that as extreme for guppys/cousins.

BGolfer, if your tap is hard, probably alkaline as well. If so, you should increase/buffer your pH using your tap as needed, Depending on your tap condition, you may not need pH stablizer/CC, etc, etc.
 
Guppies generally do better in hard water. If you have a pH of 6 odd it's likely your water is very soft, and that's the problem. Raising the pH does naff all to help this; in fact, pH is generally a red herring.
 
fish will adjust to a variety of pH levels. pH levels are much less important than people believe them to be. TDS and KH and GH are much more important than pH IMHO.

Cloudiness occurs with the pH buffer because once there is so much added to the tank it precipitates out of solution and 'clouds' the tank.

I recently moved from my hard hard well water with a pH of 8.2 to a softer 6.8 pH water. Did all my fish roll over and die from the pH change? no. I did a long acclimation from one water to the next to ensure that the TDS and KH and GH didnt change too rapidly.
 
Appreciate the help! I haven't touched the 10 gallon since I posted (expect to double check parameters) and it had just about cleared all the way. Guppies look happy again =) I've learned that the less meddling and chemicals the better for about the 100th time now. Hopefully I remember this time =P
 
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