High Ph Swing In New Planted Tank

[melh1979]

Hi - we set up a new planted tank yesterday. I checked the pH when I got in from work only to find it's gone up to about 8.2. I have tested the tap water and that is at 7.4. The substrate used is Tropica substrate with a layer of silica sand and some gravel from our other tank. We have some bogwood and some slate rocks in there too. I can't think what is causing this as I was under the impression that silica sand and slate would not raise the pH. Could there be some other reason for this? Thanks!

 

[garuf]

Hi - we set up a new planted tank yesterday. I checked the pH when I got in from work only to find it's gone up to about 8.2. I have tested the tap water and that is at 7.4. The substrate used is Tropica substrate with a layer of silica sand and some gravel from our other tank. We have some bogwood and some slate rocks in there too. I can't think what is causing this as I was under the impression that silica sand and slate would not raise the pH. Could there be some other reason for this? Thanks!

youll probabaly find its the bog wood thats making the ph drop by leaching tannins which are acidic, unless you going to be keeping lake tangankiki or malawi chichlids this effect is quiet desirable

 

[melh1979]

Hi the pH has gone up not down! I think it's the rock - rather stupidly I didn't check it with vinegar before putting it as I thought it was slate (or granite) and I rather naively thought the LFS would warn us about the rock but we checked it this evening and it was fizzing a little. We have taken it out and have put it in a bucket of water to see if it raises the pH of that. We have done a 15% water change to try and help drop the pH.

 

[Biulu]

Hi Melh! I would like to know what happened to the pH swing? Was it due to the rock, and were you able to get it down? I am thinking of getting silica too, but I have been told that if you don't wash it thorougly, it can get the pH up.