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What should the ph level be in a 55g freshwater aquarium?
Emma M asked:
I am going to add a clown loach to my tank and I need to know the recommended ph level….
I am going to add a clown loach to my tank and I need to know the recommended ph level….
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30. December 2008 at 10:40 pm :
clown loach prefer a slightly softer water, so would like a ph or around 6.5 similar to that of discus. that is the recommended ph for clown loach, but please remember that every fish has different ph requirements, so be carful what other fish you add in in this retrospect, as well as being careful what other fish you put in so that you dont have your inhabitants fighting between themselves
3. January 2009 at 4:05 am :
a ph of 7.0 is neutral any more or less is acidic so try to keep it at a ph of 7.0 - 7.5, which is safe for most fish.
3. January 2009 at 11:29 pm :
Clown loaches get too big for your tank and need to be kept in groups. A ph of 5-8 is good for them, as long as it is stable.
5. January 2009 at 7:53 pm :
The most important thing regarding ph, is not that you manipulate it to be at the “perfect” recommended level, but that it remain constant. If you need to consistently add chemicals to change the level, this will be far more disastrous than if it’s “too high” or “too low.” The majority of fish can handle a far wider range of ph than what their “perfect” level is set at.
9. January 2009 at 5:27 am :
Although Clown Loaches come from and will often prefer water with a pH of around 6.5 to 7.0, they will do fine in a pH well over 7.0, what is important is that you do not chase your pH which is more harmful than the actual pH.
You can add products such as Bio Lif (which is made up of almond leaves and is a preferred method) or Peat Pellets to naturally lower pH, however many products on the market can cause unstable pH which is often worse the osmotic processes of fish than the actual pH. Also keep in mind that softwater fish still need minerals such as calcium, the Amazon River (which is soft) starts high in the Andes Mountains where it picks up a lot of mineral and then is naturally softened by organic decay and other organics.
Your pH is fine for the fish you have, what is more important is a stable KH of at about 50 ppm which will maintain a stable pH. Your GH is a useful measurement of important minerals in the water such as Calcium and Magnesium.
For more about pH, KH, Ect, I recommend reading this article:
12. January 2009 at 6:03 am :
When in doubt, unless you are keeping tetras, or African cichlids, go with 6.8.
This is a good all-around pH for South American/Caribbean tropicals. And make any changes as gradually as possible, to avoid unduly stressing the fish, with a toxic shock.