Can plants tolerate high PH?

[cichlidcichlid]

My ph is between 7.6-7.8 is this range unsuitable for live plants?

Also there is a small amount of bba in the corner of the tank, does this mean that this might be a potential dead spot? Would the problem resolve itself if I added a powerhead?

 

[J double R]

it should work just fine. Remove the bba as soon as you can, if that's the only bit growing. What are your nitrate levels looking like?

 

[KarlTh]

7.6-7.8 is a normal pH; not a high one. Not that it bothers the plants much anyway.

 

[cichlidcichlid]

nitrates are 20 ppm

 

[jmhart]

There are some plants that will not tolerate that pH, but by and large most plants readily available in the hobby will be fine there. As pH/TDS continue to rise, more plants have problems. Over 8.0 you'll start to have more problems. Crypts do really well in hard high pH water.

 

[slackline]

Crypts, Vals, Onion plants, anubius all do well in high pH.

 

[jpappy789]

I've kept various plants at a pH over 8.0, granted most are pretty hardy in general.

 

[KarlTh]

Real issue with hard water for most plants is simply that the equilibrium CO2 levels are lower as the KH rises. I'm pretty sure Plantbrain is on record as saying that it really isn't important in and of itself and is a complete non-issue if you inject CO2. But I could be wrong.

 

[cichlidcichlid]

Well my plants are pearling at the moment and there is nothing wrong with the tank except for a few spots of bba. I have cork screw vals, java fern, and amozon swords.

Do you think that if I am getting daily growth as well as pearling, Co2 should not be used?

 

[jmhart]

Well my plants are pearling at the moment and there is nothing wrong with the tank except for a few spots of bba. I have cork screw vals, java fern, and amozon swords.

Do you think that if I am getting daily growth as well as pearling, Co2 should not be used?

Plants need co2 regardless of water chemistry. The need to inject additional co2 is necessitated by light intensity.