ph Changes

[silveradam]

The water my 10 gallon tank (5 black skirt tetras, one clown loach) has been consistant for months. Ammonia, nitrate, nitrite all zero,kh 3, gh 6. Up until now and two weeks ago, ph has been 7.0. Today it's 7.8. Nothing's changed. What would make the ph rise that quickly? I do 20% water changes each week and don't add any chemicals other than dechlorinator.
I recently bought a "softnener pillow" for the filter to try to lower the hardness of the water but haven't put it in yet. I know there is some relationship between hardness and ph. Is this pillow thing going to help?

 

[Great Lakes]

Silver, typically, the harder your water is, the more stable the ph. Let it sit a day or so and recheck it. Don't forget, rapid ph changes are not tolerated well by fish. So if/when you start changing your level back to where you want it, do it gradually.

Let us know after you double check your reading.. B)

 

[reg2k2]

I think your water's pretty soft as it is. You say nothing's changed, haven't added any rocks/shells? Sounds like you might have tested shortly after water change??

 

[Great Lakes]

Silver, what species do you have in your tank?

 

[reg2k2]

psst..GL...

(5 black skirt tetras, one clown loach)

 

[silveradam]

Well, four days later nothing has changed. Ph is still 7.8, ammonia, everything else is zero. My fish don't look sick or anything, just unhappy. I haven't done a water change for about a week, I wanted to see what the ph was before I did it. Should I do a change now or leave it and see what happens?
I haven't added anything to the tank - actually removed a rock.

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi silver,

I think your fish should be fine at pH7.8 but GL says they don't appreciate sudden changes.

By all means do your normal water change but first check to see what pH your tap water is at.

 

[Great Lakes]

Thanks Reg.. Wish there was a head slap smilie sometimes...lol

Silver, the reason I asked was neons don't like real alkaline water, but most fish can be happy in the mid 7's. If they are healthy at the moment with the ph levels, chances are they will continue to be fine

Around the Great Lake region where I am, ph levels are in the solid mid 7's naturally, so I go with it.

 

[silveradam]

I checked the tap water before doing a water change - it's a bit lower than the tank - about 7.4 or so. I'm on municipal water in the burbs of Toronto so I expect there are fluctuations in the water. I'll check before I do water changes and try not to let it get too much higher.
I guess as long as everything in the tank is OK I don't have to worry.