Pure Water Pebble - River Jack color PH shot UP HIGH

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
TSCYW8 said:
So you are saying a PH of R/O DI water coming out of holding tank at 6.0 - and after adding gravel jumps to 7.4 on the API chart is not a bad thing? when substrate states shouldn't change chemistry of water? Also I did add equilibrium to my 125 tank and neutral regulator and still super high. My plants started melting as well so took them out and put in another tank. I have never had this happen even with sand before so this is new to me. I have horrible well water that changes all the time best route for me was the R/O DI water. I know you guys know the chart but just making sure I understand that this increase is real not a big deal? One other question if I can. Does a HOB established filter has to be the same size tank to move it to establish bacteria in new tank? going from one if my 40 gallon to 125 tank. ??

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Yeah, pretty much. When we are talking about pH of RO, or RO/DI water, the pH is pretty irrelevant IMO.
 
Rocksor said:
So the KH is for the RO/DI water before the rocks were added? I suspect the PH of the RO/DI water is lower than 6.0.
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Nope the KH and GH are at 3 with substrate and went up to 4 actually after the substrate sat,, like within a hour. Yes PH could be lower but API only goes as low as 6.0. I use to have a kit that told you directly what it was but company stopped making them. My loaches and tetras wouldn't appreciate the PH I don't think. Most other fish I have can go higher though. I took out all substrate and now trying to figure out why PH is still at 7.4 with a 50% water change twice now. In all my other tanks PH never jumped. My LFS is stomped as well now since took out substrate and did two water changes why PH is still same. I guess I am going to change media out on FX6 and drain tank again. I don't think it is the manzanita wood so will leave that in. What would you all do?
 
See my post #8 and duanes post #10.
 
Rocksor said:
Did you rinse your test tubes in RO water?
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No. hmmm I just took water from established tank (sitting 6.6) and let sit over night with gravel in it. Went up to 6.8 PH over night. I really like this gravel color but it seems there is something in it that raises PH. I am heading to LFS again to ask for advise once again and get more plants.
 
duanes said:
I'm not quite sure why you are worried about pH of 7.4,
M. praecox (if this is what you mean by dwarf rainbow) tolerat pH to 7.5, denisen barbs to 7.8, and most other rainbows even higher pH into the 8s.
It is very common for plants to melt when moved to different substrate.
There are many reasons pH fluctuates beside certain substrates, one is the water may be saturated with CO2 right from the tap, or in the holding tank, and as CO2 off gases, pH can rise.
To test this you may want to put a air stone in the holding tank, and after an hour test the pH, test again another hour later.
Also.... have you been thoroughly rinsing glass ware?
If any (even a portion of a drop) of reagent, or water from previous test, is left in the tube after testing (or some dried on residue from the day before) it can skew results of a test.
I find tubes need to be thoroughly rinsed at least 3 times before and after each test is done, and turn tubes open end down over night.
In the lab I worked for, this 3 times before, 3xs after was required, and I still follow this rinsing regime today to assure accuracy.
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I don't have air stone in holding tank but do have Hydor Circulation pump and keep top of holding tank open to air.I do rinse out the tubes 4-5 times but with tap water.I will put in air stone and do test. I took some water from an established tank and tested it. It sits at 6.6 PH. I added gravel and left over night covered. PH was 6.8 this morning. I am taking some gravel to LFS and have them test without gravel and with and see what happens. At this point I am ready to go sand or go to Menards and pea gravel and try. I was taken back a bit when Natures Ocean customer service advised me not to use a lot of their gravel. I have to wonder why. They did say could have calcium deposits in a lot of their natural gravels.
 
TSCYW8 said:
I don't have air stone in holding tank but do have Hydor Circulation pump and keep top of holding tank open to air.I do rinse out the tubes 4-5 times but with tap water.I will put in air stone and do test. I took some water from an established tank and tested it. It sits at 6.6 PH. I added gravel and left over night covered. PH was 6.8 this morning. I am taking some gravel to LFS and have them test without gravel and with and see what happens. At this point I am ready to go sand or go to Menards and pea gravel and try. I was taken back a bit when Natures Ocean customer service advised me not to use a lot of their gravel. I have to wonder why. They did say could have calcium deposits in a lot of their natural gravels.
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My loaches PH should be at 7.0 I was told.
 
TSCYW8 said:
I don't have air stone in holding tank but do have Hydor Circulation pump and keep top of holding tank open to air.I do rinse out the tubes 4-5 times but with tap water.I will put in air stone and do test. I took some water from an established tank and tested it. It sits at 6.6 PH. I added gravel and left over night covered. PH was 6.8 this morning. I am taking some gravel to LFS and have them test without gravel and with and see what happens. At this point I am ready to go sand or go to Menards and pea gravel and try. I was taken back a bit when Natures Ocean customer service advised me not to use a lot of their gravel. I have to wonder why. They did say could have calcium deposits in a lot of their natural gravels.
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I could add drift wood to water to bring down PH BUT.... It would be nice to know why PH is rising so can fix it and not worry where higher PH is coming from.
 
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