Does PH affect bouyancy?

[RachB]

I've got 2x axies that I've had for about 2 months. I've had ongoing PH issues in the tank and my PH dropped to 5.5. I've been about to bring it up to about 6.5 at the highest.

One of my axies is just not doing as well as the other. His/her gills are not growing back (after been bitten off by fish at the shop) and doesn't seem to eat as well as my other one.
It has been floating for about 4 days now. After 3 days of not eating it spat out a whole bunch of undigested food. I managed to feed it one pellet today and when it ate it, it tipped up vertically.

Can my PH issues be affecting the bouyancy? Or is she struggling a bit more because her gills have not yet grown back and she is constantly needing to take in big gulps of air?

Any help or suggestions appreciated

 

[Calgarycoppers]

your pH can be affecting health which is manifesting in buoyancy issues and gill damage etc.

I suggest you either start using natural spring water or buy an RO system and remineralize with Seachem equilibrium or replenish

 

[RachB]

Hi thank you so much for your response!

So do you think the PH is preventing the gills from growing back? They haven't had gills since being at the fish shop and I was hoping they would have shown more progress in their regrowth by now!

I haven't heard of an RO system or the Seachem products but will do some research now.

My local aquarium said that because the filter has been established for such a long time part of process is that it starts causing the water to become acidic and I need to use a stabiliser, which I use KH powder. I have had a new filter in for over a month now so might take the old one out because the new one should be cycled by now and then I can see if that is what is offsetting the PH as well. The tap water is PH 7 and my other aquariums are 6.5 - 7 so its something specific in my axies tank that is affecting it.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

you change your water so its not old tank syndrome which I think is what they are referring too.

have you rinsed your filter sponge in some old tank water to help loosen debris ?

Stabilizers are a vicious cycle you are better with crushed coral,

I literally have filters that are years old and dont have issues also because I do big water changes and rinse 1 filter per tank per month then the other filter the other month so never any crashes