-=> Quoting William Mastop to All <=-
 WM> water change.  It just seems like a bad idea.  What other ways are
 WM> there, if any, to lower ph, and keep it low?  We refer to these
 fish 
The ph in our area is very high as well.  It comes out of the tap at
about 10! and goes to about 8.7 to 8.4 after sitting for a while.  I
tried to lower it using various methods before finally giving up.  I
have found that as long as I give the fish a good chance to become
use to it before releasing them that they do ok.  When I get a new
fish I float the bag in the tank for 10 minutes to let them adjust
to the temprature.  Then I add a little water from the tank about
1/2 of the volume already in the bag.  Let it float for five minutes
then repeat.  Do this at least 3 times and your fish should be fine
providing that there is nothing else out of wack in the water. 
I would advise doing a 10 percent change once a week.  Only add the
chemicals necessary to remove any chlorines or chloramines from the
water. 
This works fine here, only problem is I have found that I have the
best like with loaches and other bottom feeders.  Bala sharks do
well as well as clownloaches, weather loaches, horseface loaches and
of course plecostomuses.  It seems to be due too much of one mineral
or another in the water.  The only plants that stay alive in the
tank is Hornwort, which grows like crazy. 
See ya
... * Aquarium: a very small Jacuzzi with a party going on!
--- FMailX 1.02
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