High pH in tank... low in tap water

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E

Ewalk

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 6, 2006
34
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Illinois
I just got a fresh water test kit today. I did all the tests. They all turned out good but the pH. The ammonia and nitrites were 0 and the nitrates were 5. The pH of our tank was 8.4... I tested the water with the pH test and it was off the chart. So, I used the high range pH test and it was 8.4 pH. I tested the tap water and it was 7.4. How could it raise so much and how could I lower it? :nilly:
 
Usually to get the accurate pH reading of the tap water you should fill a cup with it and let it stand for a couple of hours before testing. The pH can be altered by various décor in the tank – perhaps you have some corals or crushed corals in the tank? What kind of substrate are you using?
 
I only have some regular crappy blue fish tank gravel in the tank. I want to change it. Is there anything that I should be using to lower pH? I want to get some blue rams and apistos or kribs and I think they all like a lower pH. Other than that, the only thing in the tank is a few fake plants.
 
Do not buy the liquid chemicals from pet stores to lower the pH; they are highly unstable which results in fish stress. I think the traditional thing to do is to get some driftwood – it looks good as aquarium décor and it will lower the pH and keep it steady.
 
Hi,

What size tank and how often are you doing WCs? and how much of a change.

Like they say stay away from chemicals right now...

Driftwood is a very stable way to handle things but very slow and some of the wood may not even help (african ?)

You will need to determine the buffering capacity of your tap water.

Measure the total hardness (dH) of the tap water...4-5dH is adequate to maintain a stable pH.

A carbonate hardnes (kH) of 75-100 is an adequate measure too.

Build up of dirty filters / gravel make phosphate levels rise, causing pH instability.

More to come after we get more answers...:D

Dr Joe

.
 
I say your kH is low.
 
Depending on how old your gravel is it could be breaking down if its not a natural colour could be leaching something into the water causeing it to rise in ph.
 
This tank is only a 20 gallon. I have been doing weekly water changes of about 40%. I think that I may try to get some driftwood and maybe change the substrate. I also tested some tap water after letting it sit over night and it went from 7.4 right out of the tap to 8.1 pH the next morning. So the difference was not as bad as I thought.

I will have to get a different test kit to test for the dH and kH also as my master test kit doesnt have those. Has anyone kept blue rams in a pH around 8.0? I know they prolly won't be able to breed, but could they live and be healthy in that pH if it was stable and not changing?

Thanks for all the ideas and help so far.
 
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