My water pH is 7.6, should I leave it?

[genEus]

Unfortunately my water doesn't seem to agree perfectly with the fish that I'm planning on keeping - tetras, gouramis and loaches, who are all supposed to prefer more acidic water.

I am planning to add bogwood, so that'll probably lower the pH a little. I don't know if I should put peat moss in there or not. From what I've read it's really a hassle to keep trying to alter the water chemistry with any water treating chemicals and much better to just leave it alone and let the fish adjust to the higher and stable pH.

So, you think it'll be okay? I talked to the store owner where I'm planning to get my fish and he said they use tap water with pH of 7.2, so there won't be such a huge difference.

Any thoughts?

 

[Pharaoh]

As long as you give the fish a chance to acclimate. Most fish can adjust to varying water parameters. You should be fine. It is better to have a consistene set of water parameters than it is to have it fluctuating.

 

[sploke]

I keep mostly SA and asian blackwater fish, and with my well water, the pH in most of my tanks is about 7.8. As said, as long as you acclimate properly, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[genEus]

I keep mostly SA and asian blackwater fish, and with my well water, the pH in most of my tanks is about 7.8. As said, as long as you acclimate properly, it shouldn't be a problem.

How do I "acclimate properly?"

 

[andyjs]

If the store pH is very different from yours, you need to acclimate them by adding your water slowly until the water chemistry has been adjusted to that of your tank. If there isn't a major difference, you could do this over a period of 10-15 min. If there is, it could take over an hour.

As far as the 7.6 pH, I've kept all of those kinds of fish (plus others like angels and blue rams) and my pH is normally around 8.2-8.4.

 

[polish]

My Tap Ph is 8.8 but all my FW tanks are 7.2-7.6. I've added some Neutral Regulator in the past but none for a while and it stays in the low to mid 7's, even after water changes. I do have real driftwood in all my tanks as well as BioComplete substrate and live plants if it makes a difference. Point being don't go by the tap, set the tank up and let it cycle then test it and see where it's at. Now if that is what it's at after a cycle (I can't tell if you mean your tank or tap water) then as was said just acclimate properly and should still be fine.

 

[mahemaheman85]

some waters chemistry changes as the water ages, i agree with the post above me.

 

[andyjs]

That's true. Mine comes out of the tap about 7.2, but when the CO2 outgasses, it goes up past 8.