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Ever since I've started this tank almost 2 months ago, the ph has been 8.0 I have not tested the water regularly, I am planning on buying a testing kit in the near future. Could my local water just have a high ph level? Is it normal for it to be so high? It was 8.0 before my 30% water change today, and I think it may have gone down to 7.5 afterwards, but the color didn't change too much. Am I doing something wrong? I really don't want to get into using chemicals to lower my ph levels...

It is entirely possible that your water is 8.0 out of the tap. That's exactly the pH I have here. It would be nice if it was lower, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. From all I've read and seen, fish prefer a steady pH to one that is fluctuating a lot. Generally, you're better off just avoiding keeping fish that absolutely require low pH conditions. Most fish seem able to adjust to the higher pH, even if they would prefer more acidic water. Getting into trying to lower it isn't worth it most of the time. The other option is just to keep fish that really thrive under conditions of high pH and hard water: Rift Lake cichlids, for example.

Our tap water is 8.0-8.2 (seems to vary depending on time of year). It's never been a problem. I keep two kinds of rainbowfish, pearl and dwarf gouramis, rosy barbs, platies, zebra danios, and a pleco. Despite the ominous predictions of people in the LFS, I've had no problem whatsoever. Everyone has adjusted just fine, and I've never tried to alter the pH of the water.

There are fish I wouldn't try to keep in water with pH that high (certain rasboras come to mind), but many of the common fish seem able to handle it.

There is a high limit to pH values and a 9.0 seems to be it...

However, ammonia has a liking for high pH value tanks so it's always wise to check for ammonia now and then just to make sure it's in acceptable range, zero.

--garyroland.

The pH in the area I'm currently living in is around 8.4, but a normal pH (neutral) is 7.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

There really is no "normal" pH. Your pH is just a measurement of how acidic your water is. . . if it's close to 8.0 out of the tap, it will be close to 8.0 in your tank. I highly suggest buying a pH test though, to test your tap water before it goes into the tank and also to test the tank periodically yourself so you can spot any changes.

My Canadian friend has the correct approach...

Test kits are an absolute must in our hobby. I prefer the liquid tests as opposed to the test strips but anything is better than nothing at all.

--garyroland.

beasr in mind that the source of your water tends to affect it's PH.
IF your water comes from Artesian Wells, then the PH and hardness will be high or very high, as the chalk filters lots of minerals into the water. Water sourced from reservoirs tends to be more acidic.

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

Hi,
If your water comes from an aquafer that is carbonate
(limestone, dolomite, and some sandstones, etc.)
then the pH of 8, or higher, is typical.

To lower it, you could use peat in the filter.
Put some in the toe of a nylon, or panty hose,
tie it off, and place it in the output side of
the filter so that the water flows through it
and back into the tank.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I had a similar discussion not long ago, my ph is 8 also, and the gh is very high. (Well water, highly acidic with high mineral content, and prob a limestone holding tank)

I'm thinking with wellwater, the ph would be more constant than townwater (alot of things can fluntuate there)

If your ph lowered after the water change, do you have townwater ? Or in your tank peat or CO2 ? I'd test that again to be sure. That much of a ph swing could stress a delicate fish.

I'll agree with the others here (I learned from them), water testing is necessary as is learning to test it all yourself and understanding the results..

My livebearer fry don't breed much and I lose more fry than normal due to the hard water but otherwise they are fine.. (Also in harder water, usually more males will be born than female, this is true with my guppies and platys)
Increased Nitrate testing has also helped save more fry recently. If I paired up my Africans I'd sure have a breeding party in the tank though !


The Amazon Nut...