PH Help

[Vinjari]

We went out and purchased the API master test kit and tested both tanks the day after doing a 50% water change. Everything is fine except for the PH level. It is reading between 7.8 and 8.0. We tested the tap water and it is reading about 7.8/8.0 and that is being looked into. We went and bought and treated the tank 3 times yesterday hours apart with PH Down and it made no change. We went out and got a jar of Neutral Regulator which is supposed to adjust the PH level to 7.0. We did this about 7 hours ago and it is still reading 7.8. My friend watched me do it and double checked the amounts and directions so we know we did it correctly. What is going on? Why won't it go down?

[trankill]

I read something on the forum where Sea Shells are bad for freshwater. They would bring up the PH since they come from salt water environment.
Would you happen to have any?

[Vinjari]

No, all we have in there is gravel, 2 artificial plants and 2 ornaments. We are planning on putting a live plant in there next weekend.

[jm1212]

stop adding thye pH regulating chemical. it will mess up your tank and severly stress your fish.

waht kind of fish do you have in the tank. regardless, most fish found in every day pet sotres will do fine in your pH. i keep "soft" water fish like angels and tetras in a pH of 8.0 and i have had no problems and have yet to see any associated with my ph.

[Mgamer20o0]

i agree with jm1212 100% its much better to have a stable ph then one that swings.

[Omega]

It's your tap water. Chemical additives won't help that.

It's best to stick with only fish that like alkaline water.

[Rbishop]

As noted, leave it where it is at. You will be having a constant battle getting your tank stable with additives. Unless you have some specific need for a lower pH, the fish will adjust.

[Mgamer20o0]

As noted, leave it where it is at. You will be having a constant battle getting your tank stable with additives. Unless you have some specific need for a lower pH, the fish will adjust.

and if there is a need there are better ways to do it.

[bkw1982]

7.8/8 is fine, as everyone before me has said. i live in san antonio were the water comes from an aquaifer, gives me really hard water with a high PH. stable ph is bette then a movin one

[liv2padl]

here's why your pH hasn't gone down. typical "hard water" contains calcium and magnesium salts which exist as carbonates. carbonates in solution exhibit a phenomona known as "buffering". when an acid is introduced to a water sample containing carbonates, the carbonates react with the acid and neutralize it, releasing carbon dioxide and a small amount of heat. the CO2 is exhausted at the water surface and the net result is no change in your pH.

simply put, carbonates stabilize the pH as long as they are present in sufficient amounts. when the carbonates become depleted, the pH of your water will plummet rapidly with the introduction of even a small amount of acid, killing fish, plants, and your biofilter. the chemicals sold for "adjusting" the pH of your water (such as neutral regulator) are typically but not necessarily acids of phosphate. this will potentially result in an algae problem but not in a pH reduction.

leave your water alone. playing chemist almost always leads to an unstable system.

[Vinjari]

I will leave the water as is then. We are on a pretty crappy water system. The fish seem to be doing alright.