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I have two juvenile catfish, one is a Tiger Shovelnose and the other is an RTC x TSN hybrid. These are my first monster catfish, so I've been doing a ton of research. Everything I find says that their ideal pH is around 6.8-7. I've seen that they will be fine up to 7.8, but thrive at 6.8-7. I love these guys very very much, so I'm not satisfied with them just being "OK," I want to do everything I can to help them thrive.

Right now my tank is holding steady at a pH of 7.8. Even if I was ok with them just being "fine," I don't like the pH being at the upper extreme, it's just too close for comfort.

So my question is for those experienced with these cats: is it better that I just leave the pH at 7.8 to play it safe and avoid a dangerous fluctuation? Is my desire to have them in their ideal pH unfounded?

Also, I've never had to play with pH before. I bought some peat pellets and mesh bags, but before I put them in my filter, I want to get a step by step plan on how to use it to get the pH to the desired level. I would like to know things like whether I remove the peat once water is at the required pH, how much do I put in, how do I address water changes.

Any help is very appreciated!

How long has the tank been running? What size is it, how long have the fishes been in it? What pH is the water you use for water changes?

I'd suggest not doing anything to change the pH using chemical additives, as quick changes will cause more harm than good. There may be things you can do to slowly change it over time to get it close to neutral depending on circumstances hence my questions.

Jools

The tank is fully cycled if that's what you mean, I know pH swings during cycling are normal. It's been running for about 2 months now. The RTC x TSN hybrid has been in the tank 2 weeks, the TSN has been in for about a week. The pH of my tap is 7.8, same as the tank.

I haven't been using pH altering chemicals, I have no interest in doing so. I would prefer to use natural and gradual methods like peat.

Welcome to the Planet!

I'd take you to our Leader but he has already greeted you.

ShanerBock88 wrote:...So my question is for those experienced with these cats: is it better that I just leave the pH at 7.8 to play it safe and avoid a dangerous fluctuation? Is my desire to have them in their ideal pH unfounded?...

I'd vote for yes to both questions.

First, in my understanding, these guys are pretty adaptable. Second, I'd guesstimate that out of all pet fish, which are kept in adequate basic care but do not live out their expected lifespan, 99.9% are lost to accidents. Having to maintain pH artificially IMHO is loaded with possibility of accidents.

I've lost dozens and dozens of RTCs and TSNs and hundreds of other fish to accidents. AFAIK, I've lost several fish due to ill-fitted (but stable) pH.

Great, thank you both very much. I'm just going to leave the pH at the stable 7.8. I really appreciate the help and so do my cats!

Just to provide Victors comment with an example, My 2 Platydoras were bought in 1989. They were never kept in softened water, they almost Always had to keep their own with large cichlids

But apparently, they still live, in 2016. And my tapwater has mostly been pH appoximately 7.8, hardness DH 8 - 12 over the last few decades. Not exactly amazon type water