Rocks causing my fish stress

[Danmclucas]

i recently made this using lock it superglue and rocks from Homebase. I tested them using vinegar then glued together. My fish seemed stressed all day and I thought it might be because of the change in habitat. Then tested the water and ph was a lot lower than my tap. Can anyone help me. This took ages and would be a shame to stop using it Unless it is causing harm.

 

[deeda]

The rocks look just fine to me for fish tank use as well as the Loctite super glue is just fine. What is the plastic you have used to hold the rocks?

Can you provide more details on your tank set up, how long has it been running and what are the normal pH test results compared to the one after you added the rocks?

 

[Danmclucas]

The rocks look just fine to me for fish tank use as well as the Loctite super glue is just fine. What is the plastic you have used to hold the rocks?

Can you provide more details on your tank set up, how long has it been running and what are the normal pH test results compared to the one after you added the rocks?

The plastic did not go in the tank as it was just a base to build it on. I used vinegar and nitrite api master solution to test the rocks which are acidic? But I’m not sure if it’s possible for that to change the tank from a ph of 7 to 6 so quickly. All the other tests were perfect when checking parameters.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Would be very surprised for those rocks to turn a tank acidic. Soft to hard yes but not alkaline to acid , in fact would expect the opposite if anything.

 

[Danmclucas]

It has been running for a year and a half with a Cuban and midas and two featherfin catfish. I am looking at the tank now and all of the fish have stopped hiding and looking stressed. Could they just be scared of the new structure ?

 

[Danmclucas]

Would be very surprised for those rocks to turn a tank acidic. Soft to hard yes but not alkaline to acid , in fact would expect the opposite if anything.

Yes I am really confused

 

[kno4te]

Maybe just getting used to it. Cichlids probably trying to figure out how to move it all and can’t. Waiting period If the water is good maybe needed.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Over the last few days to a week I have done a number of large water changes and lost quite a number of fish. More likely the tap water than the rocks.

 

[Danmclucas]

Maybe just getting used to it. Cichlids probably trying to figure out how to move it all and can’t. Waiting period If the water is good maybe needed.

That’s what I am thinking now. I took it out and the fish are just swimming where it was before.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

It is not so easy to drop pH by one full point quickly without actually adding acid to a tank. I know I have done this intentionally in my altum angel tank on several occasions.

That leaves only two potential explanations:
1. You messed up the test somehow and the pH is actually higher.
2. Something else got into the tank water that can lower pH.

To drop the pH one must lower the KH or else add enough acid to overcome it.