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View Full Version : Low ph emergency in fish tank


nypitbull113
Feb 6, 2010, 01:33 PM
I never had a problem with my Ph had tank for 8 years. I added a chemical called clarity and added way too much I miss read the instruction and added 3 times the dose. As soon as I added the chemical my snails fell off the sides of the tank I removed them and they are fine. I brought the water to be tested and they said my amonia was too high as well as nitrates and told me to buy prime. I used the prime and did a 25% water change after about 2 hours the fish seem to have gone back to normal ( swimming, eating, etc) but later that day they returned to just laying on the bottom I took another sample to be tested and they said my Ph was way too low and told me to buy ph up I added that and there is no change in my fish, but there eyes have a white film over them, and they are not eating, the water is clear. I know I am suppost to increase the Ph slowly but I am afraid my fish will not survive in this condition . What can I do?

Lucky098
Feb 6, 2010, 10:53 PM
You might want to start by doing partial water changes until the PH will come back up. I'm not a big advocate of messing with water chemicals... It gets too complicated and once you start, you cannot stop.

Try a 50% water change... add the Prime and then continue to add the prime (half dosage) every 3 days. It'll help drop the ammonia in the water naturally and gradually.

A lot of times when the tanks get crazy out of control,its easiest to start over... Typically if anything is wrong in the tank, your bottom dwellers (snails) will be effected first.

I would suggest to do the 50% water change and adding the prime. Run fresh carbon in the tank, typically the mixed blend (black and white) takes care of both ammonia and the nitrite/nitrate levels in the tank...

nypitbull113
Feb 7, 2010, 03:31 AM
Thanks, I will