User error or uneducated user

[nfored]

I'd love 7.0 but I am not locked into any one pH only a stable pH above 6.0, I think most of my fish can handle a pH of 8.0. I think a stable pH a little above their preferred range, is much better then a shifting pH withing their preferred range. I am experimenting with ways to keep my R/O + DI water, with acceptable kH and gH readings without spending millions on chems. I think maybe I just haven't given the rock enough time, as its clearly having some effect.

 

[crisper]

I would suggest adding some plants and some driftwood to your tank. This would help stabalize a lower ph maybe 7.2to 7.4. The fish in your profile would do well at about that ph.

 

[Bderick67]

Ok the live rocks are dead as can be, dryed for 1 month then soaked in tap water, they are used to increase the gH and kH. I will have to order a test kit fo kH and gH, I know they are working at some level as my ph is above 6.0 with no chemical or water chages. I seem to confuse a lot of people with the live rock stuff, but I assue your I have research this, I could have used crushed coral, but this way I get decorations and the buffering.

I was really just woundering if a swing in pH of that level could happen in a matter of a couple hours? if so I may need to start checking pH more then once a day until I get it stable.

Yes it can, it actually take just minutes. If your carbonate hardness is 50 ppm or less.

 

[nfored]

Ok so today at 9 am I tested and it's 8.2 I will test again around noon, Ordered my kH and gH test kits, they should be here in a couple days.
I have also been thinking about driftwood, I went to the lake yesterday to try and find some.

 

[nfored]

ok my pH has been stable now for about 4 days, doing 30% water cahnge, and we will see what happens, I added some driftwood.