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Bhaktijames · Feb 28, 2009, 12:37 PM

Ph is high in this, the second try. All my fish died a few weeks ago, over night. Cleaned out tank and have introduced a few new fish. Now they have began to die. The ph is high, and I am trying to bring it down using peat moss this time. I have a coral rock in the tank. Could this be a problem with SA Cichlids? What other than Ph Down could I use to lower my Ph.
Thank you,
~Ron

twinkiedooter · Feb 28, 2009, 07:53 PM

I had 12 fresh water tanks full of cichlids. Every possible color imaginable. They are very delicate fish to properly keep. You should not introduce the cichlids until your water is the proper PH. Are you using water out of the tap or is it filtered in any way? Are you on a well water or city water?

Bhaktijames · Mar 1, 2009, 06:05 PM

Thanks for replying: The Ph was very high, I am now lowering it slowly. What is a good ph for Convict Cichlids? For now I am shooting for 7.0 since the high reading was off the chart. Thanks again twinkiedooter
~Ron

AKaeTrue · Mar 7, 2009, 10:11 PM

The coral rock is causing the Ph spike.
They contain minerals that harden and buff the water by dissolving in it.
As the minerals dissolve in the water it raises the hardness and alkalinity of the water which causes a rise in the Ph.

Chemicals to lower the Ph will not work for long periods.
It will lower it momentarily; however the coral is going to buff the water and raise the Ph back up.

This up and down Ph swings are very dangerous for the health of the fish.

To lower the Ph, remove the coral.

If you can break the rock and gradually remove the pieces day by day will be the best thing for the fish. This will slowly lower the Ph.

Good luck.