hard water & pH

NewObsession

NewObsession

AC Members
Aug 27, 2007
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tested my water params

Very hard ( don't have numbers with me) and pH close to 8
am I screwed? I know the pH should be lower but have also read over and over advice not to try messing with your ph
Comments? suggestions?
 
generally you want a stable pH over messing with the water.
there are a few cases where some have had to go to water filters and readding buffers.

at pH 8 you are probably ok.

is the source water municipal or well?

have you tested pH after the water has bbeen set out from the source for 24 hrs?
 
Both actually. I tested the water in the tank and ph was high and very hard. so for the next wc I bought water cooler jugs, but tested it before adding and it is pretty much just as hard.. ph wasn't much lower either. maybe I just have crappy test strips
 
Actually my main concern was it messing with my cycle after reading this:

None of the Nitrobacteraceaeare able to form spores. They have a complex cytomembrane (cell wall) that is surrounded by a slime matrix. All species have limited tolerance ranges and are individually sensitive to pH, dissolved oxygen levels, salt, temperature, and inhibitory chemicals.

but apparently in better shape than I thought:


The optimum pH range for Nitrosomonas is between 7.8-8.0.
The optimum pH range for Nitrobacter is between 7.3-7.5​
 
2 10 gallon tanks. Danios at the moment. Gouramies for G/f's tank are planned. the 9 y/o is still debating what he wants in his.
 
oh well, i was going to suggest cichlids depending on your tank sizes due to the hard water and high ph but tanks are way to small. You will find that most tank bred fish will adapt to ph levels as long as they are stable which will depend on your KH levels as this buffers the PH, if your water is hard then the KH is usually at a good level for stability, my tap water is the same.
 
cichlids is a very wide range of species.

africans from some areas are better suited for pH in that range.
however, many fish have adapted to pH 8 without any real issues.
pH 8 has been used for many fish that were thought 'best' suited for acidic water.
 
The ph on my well water is 8-8.2 and I have no difficulty thus far keeping any fish that I have wanted, I jsut make sure to take my time acclimating them to the tank so that they don't have any shock issues.
 
Ya, I knew african ciclids liked hard water, and in fact when he was first looking at fish, the 9 yo wanted ciclids but I pointed out that they are aggressive and don't play so nice with other fish., plus, as mentioned, its only a 10 gal tank.
 
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