High PH and Oscar questions

[threefiveseven]

About 3.5 weeks ago I upgraded from a 10 to 20 gallon tank. I kept filter from 10 gallon on for about 2.5 weeks. New substrate (sand), new water, a few new decorations (rocks from another tank, fake plants).

One week ago I took the second filter off so I could fit on my proprietary hood/light. Tank is eclipse 20 gallon (a gift).

I wanted to use the 20 gallon for a month or 2 as a grow out tank for a new Oscar I want to get while I find a stand for the 75 gallon I got for him and it cycles. So today I go in to LFS to check water in the 20 and it turns out I have something like .2 ammonia, normal nitrites/nitrates, but PH is a dark purple, the guy said something like 8.8.

Just wondering what you think could have caused such a high PH? The only other things I have added to the tank are java moss, black thread to tie moss down and SeaChem stability for 2 days or so after I took off the second filter. Also about 2 weeks ago I lost 1 guppy and 1 lone molly, they just disappeared which means they were lunch for cornelius my shrimp. He has a violent history, has killed at least 5 guppies and 2 mollies in the last 6 months. So maybe some dead organics added to my tank in the last 2 weeks.

Also is it ok to add a baby Oscar with such a PH? I havent found the "right" one yet, looking for a really small one partially because I want to raise it and partially bc it needs to live in my 20 for a month or 2.

Current tank residents of the 20 include: 4 guppies, 2 zebras, 1 spotted pleco, some malaysian trumpet snails (who knows how many really, maybe 10-20), and 1 shrimp. I wouldnt mind if the Oscar thinned out my guppy/Zebra population or even decimated it as I am bored to death of these fish. I love building/fixing/toying with aquariums as a hobby but have not found a fish that I honestly care that much if it lives or dies, besides maybe my pleco. I look at O's all the time at the LFS/Petco and become more attached to them in 5 minutes than all my fish at home combined to be honest. I just want a fish that I think of as a pet, not just a tank.

Sorry this is long but ill sumarize my questions.

1) Any guesses as to why the high PH?
2) Can I add a baby O with this PH?
3) I plan on just letting it settle naturally but what kind of timeline am I looking at if say I do 25% PWC every other day?
4) Will it hurt the Oscar if he eats some malaysian trumpet snails?
5) Is the baby O safe with my shrimp who has a history of being a nighttime/opportunistic predator? Shrimp is maybe 3 inches long, not sure what kind but its clear body, red and black marks, decently long pinchers. (not too worried about the O killing Cornelius as the shrimp probably has it coming)
6) Will an Oscar be lonely by himself in a 75 gallon with only a spotted pleco?

I know 20 gallons is not sufficient for an O for long, but the way I see it they have 10 O's in a 10 gallon in the pet store and there's more space in my tank than that... plus I would be a better owner than the average person who shops in there....

Sorry so long, thanks for reading.

 

[Chrisplosion]

I would check your tap water's ph. If it came from a local store then it would be use to it assuming your tap is the same/very close to what was tested.

 

[threefiveseven]

Ya thats a good idea. I have moved twice in the last 3 months but only like 10 miles away. And the place I just checked it is like 3 miles from my new apt so if the local water is just naturally high in PH I would have thought they would say like "oh this is normal for around here"

 

[Jason_S]

yeah like threefiveseven said, chances are the lfs has the same ph so that's what the oscar is going to be used to. I have very similar ph and have raised oscars and other south americans without issue. I currently have 2 wild caught Geophagus altifrons that, as best I can tell, are perfectly happy and healthy (except that I need a few females lol)

 

[Noddy]

1) Any guesses as to why the high PH?
2) Can I add a baby O with this PH?
3) I plan on just letting it settle naturally but what kind of timeline am I looking at if say I do 25% PWC every other day?
4) Will it hurt the Oscar if he eats some malaysian trumpet snails?
5) Is the baby O safe with my shrimp who has a history of being a nighttime/opportunistic predator? Shrimp is maybe 3 inches long, not sure what kind but its clear body, red and black marks, decently long pinchers. (not too worried about the O killing Cornelius as the shrimp probably has it coming)
6) Will an Oscar be lonely by himself in a 75 gallon with only a spotted pleco?

I know 20 gallons is not sufficient for an O for long, but the way I see it they have 10 O's in a 10 gallon in the pet store and there's more space in my tank than that...

1ossibly any rocks ,substrate or decoration
can be the cause
2:Imo i'd get the bigger tank first,cycle it and then add the oscar, just to make sure nothing happens in the meantime, that would delay the upgrade,and thus cause trouble for your baby o.
3:a tank that small will need a religious wc scedule...
4:no
5:The shrimp may have a go at your oscar ,but given time will surely disappear in the o's belly
6:,No, an oscar does not have feelings like lonelyness, the way we humans expierience it, though he may enjoy the company of other fish, for they are very sociable fish.

and please don't take the housing given to fish at an LFS as a standard for your home-fishkeeping-situation.
Give him room, he'll thank you for that.
Starting with a sufficient big enough tank will give your fish less stress and will give the fish the possibility to grow into his environment.

Good luck in finding a bigger tank and the oscar you like!