Help Ph Spike In my 38 Gallon

ChrisK

ChrisK

AC Members
Aug 10, 2008
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Sulphur, LA
Just Got off work tested water in my 38 gallon long Readings were

Ph: 7.8
ammonia: 0
Ni: 0
na: 15
This is a community tank stocked with mostly tetras. All tests for the last three months have been between 7.0 to 7.2. Any Ideas why the sudden spike? Will baking Soda work to lower it? :confused:
 
What is the pH on your tap water? A sample that has set out over night in a shallow dish.

What kind of test kit are you using? Strips or liquid?

Are you dosing CO2? Substrate?
 
was that after the tap water sat overnight in a bowl?

a pH reading on fresh tap water is useless.
 
^ correct.

Anything added to tank at all (a rock...different filter media) ? Something has to have had this effect, or your test kit is out of date (check lot number - last four digits are mm/yy and the test is good for 3 years from that date) or has become contaminated (leaving the lid off/less than tight can have this effect).

Btw don't panic - if all looks ok in there its not going to have disastrous effects. It would be good to work out what is causing it though.

edit : another idea - just to check your test kit, presuming its in date, if you have the API High Range Ph test (comes in the master test kit) run that...I think it starts at 7.6 or 7.8. See if the result is replicated.
 
Coler said:
another idea - just to check your test kit, presuming its in date, if you have the API High Range Ph test (comes in the master test kit) run that...I think it starts at 7.6 or 7.8. See if the result is replicated.
Click to expand...

Great idea... it actually has a color indicator for 7.4 on the comparison card.
 
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