+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Raised PH from algae scrubber killing fish??

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    13

    Raised PH from algae scrubber killing fish??

    Hi Folks,

    After I installed my algae scrubber my PH went from 6.8 to 7.6. Maybe 8 sometimes. Been running this thing during the day for a year and then shut it off at night. However, over the last 6 months I've been running it all night long (with light off during the night). I had 4 cory cats (peppered, melini, albino, and emerald). Also one rubber lipped pleco. I've had these guys since 2015 approx. Pepper died last week from what looked to be a swollen gill flap. Tried antibiotics (Kanaplex) and it didn't help. Then I was thinking maybe it was gill flukes so I got some anti parasitical (API general cure) that I'm going to try on the rest of the fish. So this morning I wake up and I see my rubber lipped pleco lying on his back at the bottom of my tank. Oh sh . . . I flipped him over and he's alive. However, that doesn't mean he's good. He looks really dark. He usually hides during the daytime unless there is a water change so this is bad news.

    My tank has been cycled for a few years and I changed about 50% of the water every 10 days. I checked the parameters today. PH - 7.5, Ammonia - 0, nitrites - 0, nitrates - 5 ppm. 20 gallon tank. Water temp varies between 75-80 (depends on what thermometer I use to check it).

    My question is whether the raised PH could be harm the fish?

    Rubber lipped pleco ph - 6-8
    http://www.aquariumlife.net/profiles...eco/100074.asp
    or
    6.5 - 7.5
    http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/1...c=830+837+1004

    Emerald cory cat
    ph 5-8
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_catfish
    Melini cory cat
    ph 6-8
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corydoras_melini
    albino cory cat
    ph 6-8
    http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/catfish/acory.php

    Any advice would be appreciated.

  2. #2
    Administrator
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
    Posts
    10,566
    I've never heard of it happening. pH varies greatly in lakes, so most fish have a wide range that they can handle, as your links show.

    Most scrubbers however only raise pH by 0.1 or 0.2 though, so maybe your measurements had something else going on.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    13
    Thank you sir for that information. By the way, the information you had given me about why my scrubber was only producing brown algae was right on. After I followed your advice about how to increase the airflow over the screen my algae looks awesome. It's super bright green and luminescent!

    I had posted my question on fish forums and it seems that others who keep cory cats and plecos run at a higher PH as well. It looks like this isn't the problem. Going to clean the tank and then add the API general cure to see if that helps!

  4. #4
    Administrator
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
    Posts
    10,566
    Very nice. Post pics of the growth too.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    13
    Here's some pics man. This has only been about 7 days of growth.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20170828_165056863.jpg‎
Views:	253
Size:	101.1 KB
ID:	7255   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20170828_165116085.jpg‎
Views:	271
Size:	91.5 KB
ID:	7254   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20170828_165030880.jpg‎
Views:	251
Size:	89.9 KB
ID:	7256  

+ Reply to Thread

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts