Ive had several fish die this past week, I used my ph test strips to test the ph, and it reads as 5.5-6.0, acidic. I knew something was wrong because my water is normally alkeline, so I took a sample of my water to my LFS and got it tested with their droppers and it turns out its 8.2!! we discussed the reasons and it turns out that Ive been using table seasalt with my freshwater aquarium and it has minerals that raise the ph. So I thought that my fish died from a ph spike, prob. from my diy co2 running out (I had it refilled yesterday), so I bought one of those stick-inside-the-aquarium continous ph testers, and now its reading 6.0, acidic when I know my water is alkeline. I let the aparatus sit for over 4 hours in the same water that tested 8.2 earlier today. So my MAIN QUESTION IS: IS THERE A CHEMICAL OR 'ITEM' THAT MIGHT CAUSE MY STRIP STYLED PH TESTERS TO GIVE AN ACIDIC READING INSTEAD OF AN ALKALINE READING? I should have probably posted this tomorrow since Im going to a different place to get my water tested in case my LFS's test is giving wrong reading but I seriously doubt my water is that acidic (my area's tap water's ph is around 7.8). Thanks for reading my questions and Ill keep you posted on tomorrow's ph test.
PH Test Strips Failing!! ?????
- Thread starter rangedg
- Start date
Ph test strips I heard are unreliable and unaccurate, you're the first person I heard of who uses them 
. Its a good investment to buy a freshwater master test kit. GL!
. Its a good investment to buy a freshwater master test kit. GL!Your problem is too involved to explain in a paragraph or two. To put it simply, you might want to purchase a good book.
Your ph can vary a lot and if your ammonia level is close to zero the fish shouldn't suffer at all.
If you're running a CO2 system you don't have water that's 8.2. CO2 will make the water's pH go down. If you take water with a high CO2 content from the tank in a container with a lid and an air space at the top and then shake the container the pH will rise. You can do the experiment with distilled water in a bowl, add brom blue then blow on the water through a straw and the pH will go down. Wiggle your fingers in the bowl and the pH will rise.
If you're going to a LFS and NOT telling them you're running a CO2 system you could mislead them. If you tell them about the CO2 system they should tell you what I said. If not, find another store.
I don't know why you lost fish but you're on the wrong track if you think it's because the pH with down a little.
NOW about your test strips. THEY NEED TO REMAIN DRY !!! Take a strip from the container and close the bottle immediately. When they get wet you can't count on the results. An individual shouldn't buy the 100 strip bottle unless they're trying to get pregnant. Stores use the bigger bottle. You should buy the 20-25 strip size.
Your ph can vary a lot and if your ammonia level is close to zero the fish shouldn't suffer at all.
If you're running a CO2 system you don't have water that's 8.2. CO2 will make the water's pH go down. If you take water with a high CO2 content from the tank in a container with a lid and an air space at the top and then shake the container the pH will rise. You can do the experiment with distilled water in a bowl, add brom blue then blow on the water through a straw and the pH will go down. Wiggle your fingers in the bowl and the pH will rise.
If you're going to a LFS and NOT telling them you're running a CO2 system you could mislead them. If you tell them about the CO2 system they should tell you what I said. If not, find another store.
I don't know why you lost fish but you're on the wrong track if you think it's because the pH with down a little.
NOW about your test strips. THEY NEED TO REMAIN DRY !!! Take a strip from the container and close the bottle immediately. When they get wet you can't count on the results. An individual shouldn't buy the 100 strip bottle unless they're trying to get pregnant. Stores use the bigger bottle. You should buy the 20-25 strip size.
Yep, you are going to get an acidic reading. Probably not 6.0 or less, unless you have a lot of 2 liter bottles, or are bubbling out 15 bubbles per second or more. When you say you had your DIY co2 refilled, do you mean you put sugar and yeast in it, or that you have pressurized, and got a filled bottle? Water where I live comes out of the tap at 7.6, but with co2 will drop to 6.2. What is your KH at, if it is 0, then your pH will swing much faster.
Thank you guys so much, it all makes sense. I was suspicious about the co2 escaping from my cup as I brought the water to the fish store because whenever I went to class first and then brought the water to the fish store I always got the highest ph. Does that mean that my kh is to blame. I did a water change last night (about 1/3) and I also put nitraban thats suppose to stabalize my ph, does baking soda raise the kh? When I said that I had the co2 refilled I meant that I got new 2 liter bottles (2) and attached them to the hosing. Thanks for the answers, unfortounately it clears a problem but gives another mystery. The first fish to die were two angels at once so maybe before I removed them the dead fish had already spoiled the water. Interstingly, when I did the water change today the original water had a foul smell, but the water test at my lfs did not show any amonia (or nitrite, low nitrate), so can amonia evaporate from the cup on the way to the store?
Thanks again, I will keep you posted if I come across any other developments.
Thanks again, I will keep you posted if I come across any other developments.
I think I might have figured out the cause of the dying fish. Thanks to you guys I realized that the ph wasnt the factor and that the strips were in fact correct in their reading. My lfs suggested that it may be that there is an agressor doing the damage, and they suggested that a fish doesnt necessaraly have to have outward leasions to have been picked to death. Is that correct? my water perameters have been perfect and looking back the fish that I had added before the fish started dying was a three inch pearl gourami. The first few days no fish had died, but I remember that the pearl gourami's behavior was very shy, hiding whenever I came up to the glass. But now he readly comes up to the glass to look for food, and that behavior seems to have started around when the fish started dying. s that a plausable reason? or Im I on the wrong track again? The pearl gourami is reddish at the bottom of the head so I guess its male. The first two fish to die where two angels. Is it a good idea to keep gouramis and angels together?
Thanks
Thanks
The angels could be a little sensitive, but prefer lower pHed water. pH swings do affect fish, and ammonia is more toxic in an alkaline environment. If you have a buffer, pH swings are less likely to occur.