Ph Problems

[Neptune54]

I've got two feeder goldfish in a 14 gallon tank, and their Ph is 8.2. I know this is pushing it, so I did a water change, but there is still no difference. I'd like to get it down without buying something from a store. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Luc401]

Test your tap water ph.

 

[Neptune54]

My tap water's around 7.6.

 

[KrystaK]

Then it's something in your tank. What sort of substrate do you have? I had a substrate that put my pH at 8.2 (My pH is pretty high anyways) 
Do you have any limestone in your tank? That can put it up. So can Coral (I think, never had coral but I think I've read it around that it can up the pH) 
 
 
Also, what the heck are you doing with goldfish in a 14 gal tank?! They'll need 50 gal + before too long. (Some will tell you more) They're major waste producers! 

 

[Neptune54]

Yeah, I have some coral in my tank. Will they be okay with the Ph as it is? 
 
To answer your question about the goldfish being in such a small tank, they're sort of my fall-back fish. I had a huge ich infestation last year that was really demoralizing, and I got really afraid of losing anymore fish. These guys were sort of confidence-building fish. Since they've survived, it's help me to restock one of my tanks. RIght now, they're barely three inches, and there should be a few places I can give them to when they get too big. I can't get a bigger tank, either (my parents would kill me). So this is the best I can do for now.

 

[fluttermoth]

Goldfish aren't very sensitive to pH, so they'll be fine in 8.2, but I would take the coral out and let the pH fall naturally. The coral will dissolve over time and be ruined anyway.

 

[Neptune54]

Thanks! 

 

[mark4785]

If the PH of your water doesn't go beyond 8.2 you should be fine. A PH of 8.5 is known to cause gill damage, flashing and fish can even attempt to jump out of the water.
 
Over time the carbonic acid content of your tap water will gas off into the air which will higher the PH of your water. It sounds like this is why your PH rises from 7.6 to 8.2 over time. So long as 8.2 is the absolute end-point you shouldn't run into any problems.