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Hi,
I'm wondering if anyone might be able to give me some reasons that the Ph in a tank might suddenly start rising. My tank has normally and consistently been at about 7.2...my tap water tests at 7.0...however the past two tests I have done have shown gradually rising Ph levels...the level is now at 8.0...I'm wondering what might be casuing this?? The other levels are normal as far as I can tell..Nitrites are at 0...Ammonia is at 0...Nitrates are at between 12.5 to 25mg/l (sorry thats as accurate as my test gets). I'm confused. I'm asking mainly becuase I am having problems with Ich. Two of my Rams have come down with it and I bought some treatment today and would like to start treating but don't want to if this Ph thing is indicating some other problems with water quality. I'm thinking that the Ph rise might be what is stressing them in the first place and causing the Ich. Yikes! ANy advice..thoughts would be helpful. I have added a new "fake" plant...and added a new live plant about three weeks ago. I did a 25% water change yesterday. I do water changes religiously every week.

Mesonic,

If you test your tap water pH directly from the tap then aerate the water and heat the water for 24 hours, the pH samples should be significantly different. Generally, the pH of tap water will rise after aeration and heating as CO2 is "degassed". You may notice this effect in your aquarium.

Rising pH is often the result of calcium-based gravels or decorations slowly dissolving.

Ich is a parasite with an interesting life cycle. To combat the problem, you need to treat the tank for the duration of the parasites life cycle. This is a good link: http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_ich.php.

In treating ich, I like to push the tank temperature to 85F or higher. The higher temps accelerate the protozoan life cycle with the concurrent result of rendering yhe protozoa unable to replicate itself. The meds recommended are good.

A side note - I have found most rams to be susceptible to disease if maintained at temps below 82F.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

could mean as said above it maybe there isn't enough CO2 so if you decrease the surface agitation
to increase thCO2

how old are your tests?

what kind are they?

They may be going bad, and causing false readings.

EDIT*

I highly doubt a ph change as slow as yours would cause a fish to get ich.

Last edited by victimizati0n at 07-Jun-2005 14:48