I have a 10 gallon tank I'm cycling to try and keep neocaridina shrimp and I'm noticing my pH is super high (8.5-9.0). I am using inert black sand as my substrate, I have driftwood and alder cones in the tank, and a little bit of duckweed (which seems to ironically be dying off) and some java fern. I am also noticing that my ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are also nearly undetectable, which I think might be from my plants and algae growth. I'm doing water changes using old tank water from some of my other tanks (South American Cichlid tanks) and I'm noticing that my pH is still really high in my 10 gallon tank, so I checked my other tanks and saw the pH was also really high in them (despite using American Cichlid salt). I finally ended up testing my tap water and found the pH to be in the 8.5-9.0 range. Is there something I can do to lower my pH? I've heard of people using vinegar, but that doesn't sound like a very good idea to me. I added in over a dozen alder cones and two pieces of driftwood, but my pH is still way too high. Is there a good product you guys recommend?
Does anyone have super high pH water?
- Thread starter AaronKWolfe
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My pH is a constant 8.2, and I have shrimp tank, and fish tanks, with no problems, but I try to fit the species I keep with the water they like, and that I have.
I tried experimenting with almond leaves, and a few other things, just to see, and found these materials over the years, to be impotent.
Lake Gatun ( near where I live) varies from 8.5 to 9 is full of fish and shrimp species
www.monsterfishkeepers.com
I tried experimenting with almond leaves, and a few other things, just to see, and found these materials over the years, to be impotent.
Lake Gatun ( near where I live) varies from 8.5 to 9 is full of fish and shrimp species
Experiment w Almond Leaves
There are at least 2 almond trees on the island where I live, and after todays 4 hour storm, I collected about a half dozen fallen leaves . These were dropped in my tank (180 gal with a nearly full 125 gal sump) still floating a couple hours later Initial pH was measured 3 times with 3 aliquots...
www.monsterfishkeepers.com
I heard Neocaridina Davidi (cherry shrimp which is what I wanted to keep) like relatively neutral water, so I was concerned about that. Do you think my high pH could be why my duckweed isn't growing much?My pH is a constant 8.2, and I have shrimp tank, and fish tanks, with no problems, but I try to fit the species I keep with the water they like, and that I have.
I tried experimenting with almond leaves, and a few other things, just to see, and found these materials over the years, to be impotent.
Lake Gatun ( near where I live) varies from 8.5 to 9 is full of fish and shrimp species
Experiment w Almond Leaves
There are at least 2 almond trees on the island where I live, and after todays 4 hour storm, I collected about a half dozen fallen leaves . These were dropped in my tank (180 gal with a nearly full 125 gal sump) still floating a couple hours later Initial pH was measured 3 times with 3 aliquots...
I've never had problems with duckweed, or java fern in high pH water.
It is said to take a range between 5-9.
I could easily pull a few net fulls like below per day, to feed my bocourti or pearsei in pH 8+ water of my tanks.
A most shrimp need a high enough calcium level to allow their shells to develop properly, so are "usually" found in higher pH water.
Of course some species may differ.
The shrimp I keep below.
It is said to take a range between 5-9.
I could easily pull a few net fulls like below per day, to feed my bocourti or pearsei in pH 8+ water of my tanks.
A most shrimp need a high enough calcium level to allow their shells to develop properly, so are "usually" found in higher pH water.
Of course some species may differ.
The shrimp I keep below.
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I'm wondering if maybe it's algae or my sponge filter that is making the duckweed not grow/die off. I'm just trying to keep cycling my tank, but I'm not seeing any of my numbers increase, even though I've been cycling it for almost 2 months at this point.