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I am having a problem with getting the ph level right in my 40 gallon tank. There are two oscars in it with one small pleco. It is really low (6.4) and I am nervous about the oscars going into shock or anything. I have changed 20 % of the water for the last two days, because my tapwater is perfect(7.0)
Any suggestions??

leave it at 6.4 the oscars will be fine. It's not good to make it fluctuate up and down and that's what usualy happens when you try adjusting unless it's well buffered. Oscars are right at home in slightly acidic anyway.

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Joe
www.cichlidfish.com

Joes right about the fluctuations from being altered would cause more harm than good. Adjusting ph should be done naturally and and slowly.
Keep testing the water every week while doing your normal tank maintenance (Weekly I hope ) and if it stays 6.4 on average then theres nothing to worry about.

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TONY
Australian and proud of it!!
Duboisi.com Home of the Oscar Cichlid Fan Club



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PH is affected by many things, and generally speaking water straight out of the tap is a little higher in ph then water that is left to sit out for a day or two... to find out what your waters real PH is leave a glass(non-reactive glass ie pyrex) full of water, then come back and test it when the gases have equalized and the chlorine has evaporated (usually 24-48 hrs). What ever that water tests at is what your tank will generally tend to balance at.

Have you just recently noticed a change to the lower ph or has it been this way all along? If nothing has changed then I suggest not trying to fix something that isnt broke... if it has recently fluxed significatly then I would look into the reason behind the change and not look for the quick fix.(organic matter decaying in the tank, and excess CO2 will significantly lower ph rather rapidly).

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Adam

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