Very High Ph While Cycling

[Frost]

Good Morning

After the trouble i had with adding far too much amonia at the start of my cycle, i've finally got it started and i've built up some ammonia hungry bactera . I've been to lazy to do any other tests. Up until now ive only been measuring amonia to see if its starting to drop. As soon as it did start to drop, i've tested for all the other things. Here are my results:



From the chart, you can see my pH has gone from 7.5 out of the tap to a very high 8.8 . It could possibly be higher because the API Testmaster kit doesnt measure any higher than 8.8 . Is this normal or am i doing something drastically wrong?

Thanks a lot for any help!

Frost

 

[-germ-]

I don't know what may be causing it but follow this link for some tips
BigIansPhTopic
Unless you already know all that?
If you do....
I can't help Rubbish!
Edit: Have you got any rocks in your tank? If so what are they made of?

 

[Frost]

Have you got any rocks in your tank? If so what are they made of?

Nope, just sand and the water at the moment.

That link you showed me is quite interesting. In only of my very first posts on the forums I mentioned that my dad has a reverse osmosis filter in the garage which he has running all the time for his marine tank. I asked you fish experts on here and you said i should just use tap water and add aqua safe to it to make it correct for the tank becuase RO filters take out everything from the water, including minerals i might need?

Any advice on this matter?

Thanks a bunch -germ- I really appreciate it!

Frost

 

[Miss Wiggle]

pH tends to go all over the place when your cycling, you can tell from testing ammonia, nitrite and nitrate if the cycle is still going ok. if it is then you've no cause to worry over your pH just yet. wait until your cycle has finished and you've done your big water change, it'll drop back down to roughly the level of your tap water and should pretty much stay there with regular weekly maintenance.

 

[-germ-]

I asked you fish experts

Thanks Frost...

I'm no fish expert, only had my aquarium a month, just got a very easy job so i spend most of my day on here picking up tips....
Yeah, as far as i'm aware i'd stick to tap water, as long as it is properly conditioned it'll be fine.
Personally i'd look for some peat to lower the tanks PH or the resin mentioned on the link and just keep testing until you understand your tanks balance and when you need to re-new whatever water softener it is your using. Try and keep to a natural softener, apparently chemical based ones can cause problems. That is while waiting for a reply from someone who knows a bit more than me.......
Thanks for the compliment!
germ
Edit; Ooops! Didn't see that! Read the wiggly post.... She knows stuff

 

[Frost]

pH tends to go all over the place when your cycling, you can tell from testing ammonia, nitrite and nitrate if the cycle is still going ok. if it is then you've no cause to worry over your pH just yet. wait until your cycle has finished and you've done your big water change, it'll drop back down to roughly the level of your tap water and should pretty much stay there with regular weekly maintenance.

Ahhh okay. Thanks!

I'll not worry about my pH until my cycling is finished. If it's still dodgey after my cycle then ill have to take some of the suggested actions.

Thanks for your time folks, i really appreciate it.

Frost

 

[-germ-]

pH tends to go all over the place when your cycling, you can tell from testing ammonia, nitrite and nitrate if the cycle is still going ok. if it is then you've no cause to worry over your pH just yet. wait until your cycle has finished and you've done your big water change, it'll drop back down to roughly the level of your tap water and should pretty much stay there with regular weekly maintenance.

Another lesson learnt.......