HITH on oscars caused by low PH ???

[billylee]

Ok, so my 3 oscars developed HITH and I've been changing the water
more frequently, adding a more varied diet, adding another filter,
removing all the carbon, raising the temp, adding vitamins to their pellets
and treating with metronidazole.

But I noticed that the PH is like less then 6. I only have a mid-range PH
kit and it only goes down to 6 but the color of the test water is yellowish.
I'm thinkin that its like 5. Are my oscars under alot of stress and thats why
they have HITH? What can I do?

Maybe I should remove all the plastic decor in the tank and then do a big
water change.

 

[DeLgAdO]

test your tap water

if your tap water is not the same as the tank then there is a problem

but oscars being fish from the amazon, can handle a low pH like that as long as its consistent.

 

[DeLgAdO]

how big is your tank?

how much water do you change? and how often?

 

[fishnutham]

wow thats low ph i would check your kit and your water supply but they like low ph thats not the problem can you get your tank pararamters hith is caused by a few things best to start with the basics first..

 

[billylee]

I have them in a 125 with 3 emperor 400 until recently when one failed and
I now have 2 emperor 400 with one powerhead quickfilter.
Water changes are 30% weekly.

All my parameters are within range except the PH and my tap is 6.8-7.0

 

[DeLgAdO]

i seriously doubt the pH has to do with your HITH problem

your test kit could be old or defective

jsut a theory of coarse

how long have you had it?

 

[DeLgAdO]

I have them in a 125 with 3 emperor 400 until recently when one failed and
I now have 2 emperor 400 with one powerhead quickfilter.
Water changes are 30% weekly.

All my parameters are within range except the PH and my tap is 6.8-7.0

try doing 50%-60% weekly water changes.

if your schedule permits, try doing it twice a week.

 

[guppy]

I agree with what was said by Delgado. Oscars prefer water around 6.5 pH but consistancey is more important. The problem might be with the test strips so you will need to check that. If they are accurate and your pH is falling to below 6 you have an acidifier in the tank, the plastic would not do it. If you have driftwood in the tank that might be it but more likely it is detritus deep in your gravel or even bacterial mats coating the inside of your filters. Ph is not usually mentioned as a cause of HITH but any stressor can slow the healing of a stricken fish. Long term nitrate exposure is suspected to worsen HITH and that also can be stored and released by gravel beds and filter housings.

 

[rook45]

HITH is so common with oscars who knows why it happens? some say it's diet. i always thought i t was on of them thing that happen. like why does an orca's dorsal fin flop over in captivity?? just on of them thing that happen when a creature is taken out of the wild.

 

[loach43]

Diet would be my best guess from whats been said. If your oscars are relatively old, then it's common to see HITH appear for no good reason even if your fish have been pampered with appropriate diet, water quality etc.

Seems bizarre that your ph is so acidic without making it that way intentionally.
You could keep discus in that water.

Sincerely hope you get to the root of the problem and your oscars come out of it.