High ph

[jwitty]

Hi new here so hopefully this is the right place for this. I have a 125 gallon freshwater tank that I’ve been struggling to get the ph under control. It hovers around 7.8-8 and I’d really like to get it closer to 7. I don’t want to use chemicals if possible. I heard peat moss should work so I was going to give that a try. Any other suggestions?

 

[kno4te]

Hi new here so hopefully this is the right place for this. I have a 125 gallon freshwater tank that I’ve been struggling to get the ph under control. It hovers around 7.8-8 and I’d really like to get it closer to 7. I don’t want to use chemicals if possible. I heard peat moss should work so I was going to give that a try. Any other suggestions?

Peat moss works. Almond leaves and adding tanninic water helps. Keep in mind no need to chase ur pH as lots of fish can tolerate higher pHs.

 

[jwitty]

Peat moss works. Almond leaves and adding tanninic water helps. Keep in mind no need to chase ur pH as lots of fish can tolerate higher pHs.

That’s what I heard but I’m extremely confused about my fish. I’ve had quite a few die and I haven’t changed anything. Feedings are the same, I do water changes, nitrites are at 0,ammonia at 0, nitrates are under 5 ppm let alone 20. Only thing left is ph unless I’m missing something. Of course the fish dying could also be from other things too it’s not like I know the fish’s past lol.

 

[kno4te]

That’s what I heard but I’m extremely confused about my fish. I’ve had quite a few die and I haven’t changed anything. Feedings are the same, I do water changes, nitrites are at 0,ammonia at 0, nitrates are under 5 ppm let alone 20. Only thing left is ph unless I’m missing something. Of course the fish dying could also be from other things too it’s not like I know the fish’s past lol.

A swinging ph will stress fish out and cause fish not to eat/settle and result in death. Tank seems cycled. Would test ur tap and tank for gHand kH. Also post some info about the fish it trying to keep including tank size and filtration.

 

[CarpCharacin]

What's toe KH? You need to ensure that the tank has sufficient pH buffering capacity, and that is what the KH is.

 

[duanes]

I agree with CarpCharcin.
But with tap water like yours around 8, the best thing to do (as opposed to tying to chemical change it, which would need adjustment at every water change)
is to choose species that like your water, and there are plenty.
All rift lake African species prefer pH 8 and above, most new world live bearers, and Central American cichlids prefer 8, as do some Australian rainnbows.
The fish I'd avoid, (if I were you) are Amazonian low pH loving species, Amazon tetras, Amazonian cichlids, wild angels, these may all be poor choices, because long term, their health may suffer in high pH water.

 

[jwitty]

Ok so I just ran to store to get a tester for kh and gh. I’m not really understanding them though. So for the gh, I put in one drop and it made it very light green (I’m using the api kit btw), so idk if I’m supposed to stop there since it’s somewhat green or what. Then the kh is a different story. In 12 drops it does turn the bright yellow. It gets darker blue. What does this mean?

 

[CarpCharacin]

I think that would put your KH around 200 PPM, which means there is enough pH buffering capacity.

 

[jwitty]

I think that would put your KH around 200 PPM, which means there is enough pH buffering capacity.

I’m sorry I goofed on spelling. The kh takes more than the 12 drops it says on the graph it gives. And just to restate the gh takes one drop for it to have a VERY small lime green tint to it

 

[jwitty]

I also wanted to add, at the fish store the lady said that the carbon in my filter should be removed. But she also said that ph doesn’t really matter with freshwater yet there were three people on here saying to test it lol. So I don’t know how much I can trust of her. Also, won’t the peat moss help the gh at least if not also the kh. I honestly don’t know what each one means because I’ve never tested before this.