Help With A Ph Of 8.2!

[tricky8]

Hi all you may remember an earlier post of mine with similar problems! i have a ph of 8.2 and i just cannot work out why and how to lower it.
all other water stats ok amonnia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate between 20 and 40.
the tank is 90 litres with 3 potted plants and 2 wood plants. lighting is on 14:00 -22:00 daily.i feed once a day always at same time.
im going to do my water change today as its due. last time i did a water change i made it last an hour doing it very slowly as that was the advice i was given. it stressed the fish out less as well. there are 3 tiger barbs 3 glowlight and 2 cherry barbs. there was also 5 neons but i lost one in the week. i dont want to lower the ph fast just wondered what is causing it to always be 8.2 no matter when i test. i have one airstone which is on full giving good surface water movement. gravel and a ornament is the only other things in there with a few bigger stones on the airstone for effect. help i realise the ph is way too high but how can i get it to stabilise steadily at the required level. ?

 

[sjolliff]

Have you got carbon in your filter? as iv heard this can higher the PH.

If you put peat in your filter that will lower the PH

What is your tap PH?

 

[tricky8]

Have you got carbon in your filter? as iv heard this can higher the PH.

If you put peat in your filter that will lower the PH

What is your tap PH?

Ok its a fluval u2 filter, it has 1 foam pad on one side. 1 poly carbon cartridge on the other and some biomax nodes in the middle. i tested the tap ph and its 7.0 before and after treatment

 

[tricky8]

ok what now then?

 

[WILDER]

Something in the tank is altering your ph.
Can you name ornaments and subsrate you have in the tank.

 

[timbruun]

You should try taking a glass of water from the tap and letting it sit for at least 24 hours 48 would be best, and testing the pH at that time. I have a pH of 7.2 or so straight out of my tap but after it sits the CO2 escapes from the water and raises the pH. So my tanks have a pH of 8.2-84. Which mind you hasn't caused any problems with my fish so far. I'm sure they would probably do a bit better and I'd have a better chance at spawning if I had ideal water conditions but I'm not about to go and get an RO unit when my water otherwise is great.

 

[tricky8]

yes i tested everything in the tank with a drop of vinegar i was advised to take 1 of everything out and test it with vinegar if it fizzed then i knew it wasnt suitable. and everything was ok.. i agree something in the tank is making it rise but dont know what. am i pumping in too much air. i have a piece of sponge under the airstone to help with vibration is that ok.

 

[timbruun]

If nothing fizzes then like I said try and keep a glass of water for 48 hours. You might be surprised.

Air will not raise your pH. And the sponge shouldn't change pH either.

Edit: And actually I have bogwood in both my tanks but my pH hasn't changed one bit. I have some peat pellets sitting right now in a pail of water. I'm trying to get the tannins out because the peat I got puts out alot of tannins. Everythign morning the pail is almost black. I dont' really want that in my tank water. The bogwood did put some tannins in but I'm getting used to it.

 

[lalo99]

If nothing fizzes then like I said try and keep a glass of water for 48 hours. You might be surprised.

Air will not raise your pH. And the sponge shouldn't change pH either.

Edit: And actually I have bogwood in both my tanks but my pH hasn't changed one bit. I have some peat pellets sitting right now in a pail of water. I'm trying to get the tannins out because the peat I got puts out alot of tannins. Everythign morning the pail is almost black. I dont' really want that in my tank water. The bogwood did put some tannins in but I'm getting used to it.

I'm not sure you are understanding how peat works. The tannis is what softens the water. Its tannic acid. If the peat stops leaching tannis it stops softening the water. Having tea colored water with peat moss is normal. You can't have clear water and keep peat in the tank. The water isn't dirty its just stained by the peat. This is normal in most rivers/streams that run through heavily forested areas. I will say my filters remove most of the discolration in the water from the peat. My sponges are usally black from the peat that has dissolved in the water. I rinse them off with my water changes. If you don't want tea colored water you can't use peat.

Hi all you may remember an earlier post of mine with similar problems! i have a ph of 8.2 and i just cannot work out why and how to lower it.
all other water stats ok amonnia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate between 20 and 40.
the tank is 90 litres with 3 potted plants and 2 wood plants. lighting is on 14:00 -22:00 daily.i feed once a day always at same time.
im going to do my water change today as its due. last time i did a water change i made it last an hour doing it very slowly as that was the advice i was given. it stressed the fish out less as well. there are 3 tiger barbs 3 glowlight and 2 cherry barbs. there was also 5 neons but i lost one in the week. i dont want to lower the ph fast just wondered what is causing it to always be 8.2 no matter when i test. i have one airstone which is on full giving good surface water movement. gravel and a ornament is the only other things in there with a few bigger stones on the airstone for effect. help i realise the ph is way too high but how can i get it to stabilise steadily at the required level. ?

List everything thats in the tank. A pic would also help. Are you sure the test kit is good? They do expire.

 

[tricky8]

ok the test kit is the latest api one.the 25£ version. i can list you everything in the tank if that helps. 90 litres tank with gravel as a base.3 plants potted and 2 plants with some sort of wood underneath 1 of them having christmas moss on the top.1 airstone with a bit of sponge under to help with vibration , on the top of airstone is pebbles and then glass like crystals for effect. i will add i have always had a ph of 8.2 since setting up in august.its 7.0 out of the tap but something in the tank is making it jump that much. heater running at 25 and a fluval u2 internal filter. thats everything just airline tubing and clips.

 

[lalo99]

ok the test kit is the latest api one.the 25£ version. i can list you everything in the tank if that helps. 90 litres tank with gravel as a base.3 plants potted and 2 plants with some sort of wood underneath 1 of them having christmas moss on the top.1 airstone with a bit of sponge under to help with vibration , on the top of airstone is pebbles and then glass like crystals for effect. i will add i have always had a ph of 8.2 since setting up in august.its 7.0 out of the tap but something in the tank is making it jump that much. heater running at 25 and a fluval u2 internal filter. thats everything just airline tubing and clips.

Ok. It doesnt look like there is anything that would raise the ph. What is the gravel made of? Is it the normal colored gravel you find in most fish stores? Any idea on the KH and GH of the tank and tap? I would recommend testing your tap water, as mentioned above in other posts. Put water in a bucket and run an airstone in it for 24 hours. Then test the ph see if it has risen.

 

[tricky8]

ok the test kit is the latest api one.the 25£ version. i can list you everything in the tank if that helps. 90 litres tank with gravel as a base.3 plants potted and 2 plants with some sort of wood underneath 1 of them having christmas moss on the top.1 airstone with a bit of sponge under to help with vibration , on the top of airstone is pebbles and then glass like crystals for effect. i will add i have always had a ph of 8.2 since setting up in august.its 7.0 out of the tap but something in the tank is making it jump that much. heater running at 25 and a fluval u2 internal filter. thats everything just airline tubing and clips.

Ok. It doesnt look like there is anything that would raise the ph. What is the gravel made of? Is it the normal colored gravel you find in most fish stores? Any idea on the KH and GH of the tank and tap? I would recommend testing your tap water, as mentioned above in other posts. Put water in a bucket and run an airstone in it for 24 hours. Then test the ph see if it has risen.

normal coloured gravel yes.how do i test kh and gh of tank and tap. will fill a bucket and run an airstone in it for 24 hours and test ph and let you know.

 

[Curiosity101]

No need to go to such lengths. Get a normal drinking glass, fill with water, leave overnight.

Test the pH of it in the morning. I would put money on it being simply that there is alot of dissolved C02 in the water supply straight out of the tap.

 

[tricky8]

No need to go to such lengths. Get a normal drinking glass, fill with water, leave overnight.

Test the pH of it in the morning. I would put money on it being simply that there is alot of dissolved C02 in the water supply straight out of the tap.

i did that trick a week ago with an overnight glass of water and after treatment the water ph came out at 7.4 so where does that leave me you think?

 

[Curiosity101]

Hmmm 0.8 not accounted for...

I've had an idea...
How long has the tank been set up?
And what is your water change routine?