Can a high pH kill my flowerhorn?

[vipstatus]

I had my fh in a new 55gal yesterday and this morning it looked like it was going to die. I took it out of course. I tested the water and it had a very high pH. Would that kill my fish?

 

[swede]

many factors here....is the new 55 gallon cycled?

also did you acclimate him to the new tank or just drop him in? sometimes simply the shock of going from one set of water parameters to another can cause stress to a fish, even if they are healthy.

 

[vipstatus]

its been cycled... i just want to know if a high pH can kill fish

 

[swede]

like i said before, the shock can kill it. did you slowly acclimate it? even rapid temperature changes can kill fish

 

[vipstatus]

no i didnt acclimate it, but i know it cant be the temperature change.. I added new tap water to make the pH go down and my flowerhorn seems more alive and is eating.... but i was wondering can a high pH kill my fish?

 

[vipstatus]

can a high ph kill my fish
?
yes or no?

 

[Lupin]

No, it doesn't unless there is a significant difference by one or more between two tanks. High pH is too much of a theory in regards to killing a fish. What test kit do you use? What exactly are your water parameters? What are your KH and GH? What is the temperature? Maintenance regimen? Food menu? Anything new added in your tank?

 

[Mr Pleco]

"
pH shock is a disease that can kill or seriously harm any aquatic animal. It is brought on by a rapid change of the pH of the tank water within too short a time. This usually happens because of several conditions: "

http://theaquariumwiki.com/PH_Shock



plus lower levels of AMM becomes more lethal at a higher PH.......ph shock

 

[Lupin]

"
pH shock is a disease that can kill or seriously harm any aquatic animal. It is brought on by a rapid change of the pH of the tank water within too short a time. This usually happens because of several conditions: "

http://theaquariumwiki.com/PH_Shock



plus lower levels of AMM becomes more lethal at a higher PH.......ph shock

Gotta love wiki calling pH shock a disease.

The bigger question is why was the pH adjusted in the first place? There was no need to adjust it. If it was swinging significantly, then the hardness levels are obviously very low and there is no buffering property to hold it properly. The OP never elaborated exactly what the pH changes are. I'd still love to know the KH and GH of the tap water and the tank water.

 

[Deaths Sting]

most fish can adapt to a very wide range of Ph but no fish can adapt to fluctuating PH. perhaps ur KH is so low that ur water cannot stay buffered, there for the ph goes up and down. this can cause a lot of stress and potentially kill fish.