I've just set up a new tank for my son a few days ago. The pH in his tank is reading around 7.6. I tested our tap water & it's right on 7.0 Any idea why his tank is reading so alkaline? Also, he's keeping tiger barbs...will they do all right in such a high pH, or do we need to try to bring it down? Thanks a lot !
Ph Weirdness
- Thread starter nin34
- Start date
Take some tap water and let it sit out overnight. Then test that. Some water companies put extra CO2 in their water to lessen mineral buildup, and that CO2 causes the water to become more acidic.
Tiger barbs will be more than fine at the pH. It is far, far, far more important to keep a constant pH, even if it is outside the given ranges listed in books and websites rather than a moving pH that stays in the range. Adding chemicals can sometimes cause big shifts in the pH rather than keeping it constant. And, just to give you an example, my tiger barbs have been in pH 8.2 water for several years now and spawned a few times, so I think that they are pretty content. Just keep doing your weekly water changes so that the buffering capability of the water get refreshed and the water will keep a pretty constant pH and the fish will thrive.
What is even more important since you just set up the tank 'a few days' ago is the cycling process. If you know all this, just ignore it, but right now you have the check the ammonia and nitirite levels at least daily until they consistently test at zero. There is a pinned topic in the FAQs about cycling, or several hundred you can find by googling 'cycling a fishtank'. Or, ask questions here, there are several very experienced fishkeepers that will explain the process and help you keep your fish healthy for a long time to come.
Tiger barbs will be more than fine at the pH. It is far, far, far more important to keep a constant pH, even if it is outside the given ranges listed in books and websites rather than a moving pH that stays in the range. Adding chemicals can sometimes cause big shifts in the pH rather than keeping it constant. And, just to give you an example, my tiger barbs have been in pH 8.2 water for several years now and spawned a few times, so I think that they are pretty content. Just keep doing your weekly water changes so that the buffering capability of the water get refreshed and the water will keep a pretty constant pH and the fish will thrive.
What is even more important since you just set up the tank 'a few days' ago is the cycling process. If you know all this, just ignore it, but right now you have the check the ammonia and nitirite levels at least daily until they consistently test at zero. There is a pinned topic in the FAQs about cycling, or several hundred you can find by googling 'cycling a fishtank'. Or, ask questions here, there are several very experienced fishkeepers that will explain the process and help you keep your fish healthy for a long time to come.
I agree, fiddling with pH is not something to be undertaken lightly as it invariable involves chemicals which can cause other problems, or using low hardness water which is unstable and can swing wildly in pH.
Testing some water that has sat is a good idea. Another thing is to check you don't have any calcareous material in the tank. This will raise both pH and hardness, although normally over a longer period.
Anything that "fizzes" if you put vinegar on it should be avoided, sand, gravel, roccks other decorations.
TB's will be fine in pH 7.6 as long as you are not trying to breed them.
Testing some water that has sat is a good idea. Another thing is to check you don't have any calcareous material in the tank. This will raise both pH and hardness, although normally over a longer period.
Anything that "fizzes" if you put vinegar on it should be avoided, sand, gravel, roccks other decorations.
TB's will be fine in pH 7.6 as long as you are not trying to breed them.
This is a much bigger issue.
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