Changing pH

DizTheFreak · Post by **DizTheFreak** » 06 Jan 2006, 21:31

I was originally using tap water in my tanks, but the pH went up to 8.6! I'm slowly switching to drinking water to lower the pH. I've been doing water changes every other day of about 25% or so, and refilling with mostly tap, but maybe about 1/3rd of a gallon of the drinking water (I add in a little under 3 gallons of water total during these changes, for my 10 gallon). I'm planning on increasing the amount of drinking water per change to about half a gallon after a few changes with the 1/3 gallon (I have done 2 of these so far).
Am I going about this the right way?
My pictus cat seems alot less lethargic, but my columbian shark seems to be doing worse... could I be lowering the pH too quickly?
The pictus cat was sitting on the gravel with his dorsal fin clamped, but now seems to be swimming around alot more. The Columbian shark, though, has been hanging out next to the thermometer... He sinks down a little, sliding down the side of the thermometer, then swims back up it. He just keeps doing this.
Thanks in advance for any tips/advice,
-Kris

Post by **medaka** » 06 Jan 2006, 23:14

My pictus cat seems alot less lethargic, but my columbian shark seems to be doing worse... could I be lowering the pH too quickly?

Columbian shark cats spend most of there adult life in the Ocean's and only come inland to breed, and this is where the young grow up, where they gradually make the transition from fresh water to marine as they mature. So they do not tolerate the low ph which your pim seems to like. Pims have been found in some river estuaries, which suggests that your pim may be able to cope with ph values of around 7.5 . Shark cats don't tolerate "soft' water so it would be also advisable to check your Hardness readings.
Also check out the cat-e-log entry for more data on the 'columbian shark cat'
see: -

Kana3 · Post by **Kana3** » 07 Jan 2006, 00:26

You are going about the Ph change the right way. Equalizing it through water change is far better than thru' chemical means.

DizTheFreak · Post by **DizTheFreak** » 08 Jan 2006, 23:02

Well, the pH is still about 7.8-8.0. Using the cat-e-log, this seems to be on the higher end of tolerable pH for the shark, but too high for the pictus. I'm aiming for about 7.0, which I think would be ok for both of them.
The water is quite hard, too. Also, the shark is still a juvenile, about 2" or so.
When should I start thinking about buying a seperate tank for the shark so I can begin adding salt?
Also, about how long will it take for the shark to grow fairly large? Right now my largest tank is a 50gal... Gonna have to save up for a larger one... My apartment is starting to look like a city aquarium, lmao. I'm starting to drive my roommate insane with my constantly worrying about my fish!

PlecoCrazy · Post by **PlecoCrazy** » 09 Jan 2006, 03:52

The fish store I used to work at always kept the silver sharks in the brackish water tanks. We never sold them as freshwater cats.

I would think you could put yours into a brackish water tank at any time. Just make sure you start adding salt after you get him switched over to the new tank. To start adding salt, add about a tablespoon of ocean salt per gallon of water your replacing when you do your water changes. Always stir the salt in a bucket before adding it to the tank. Water replaced due to evaporation does not get the salt added as the salt does not evaporate with the water.