High tap water Ph

[uglylittlegirl]

I was checking the Ph of my tank and it was 7.6 when I just finished a water changed, before the water change it was 7.2. I was worried that maybe the biozyme I was using to start cycling my tank was causing this (there was no activity and the biozyme was a waste of money and I'm buying bio-spira tomorrow). So I took out all the water from my tank and refilled it and cleaned up as much biozyme residue as I could. It still read 7.6 and I checked my tap water Ph and it was 7.6 too, so relieved it wasn't my tank, I started worrying about my tap water. I'm planning on getting Lemon Tetras, YoYo loaches, and a betta for my 55g, and the Ph is too high, is there any other way I can lower the Ph without resulting to chemicals or would this be the only way? I know the Betta can live in a high Ph but I think the Lemon Tetras and YoYo loaches need a lower Ph than 7.6, lfs told me 7.2 is good.

 

[jm1212]

your fish will be fine if your pH remains stable.

honestly, 7.6 isnt high at all. i keep "soft" water fish in a PH of 8.0 and i have not had any adverse effects

 

[liv2padl]

I think the Lemon Tetras and YoYo loaches need a lower Ph than 7.6

no they don't. your pH is just fine and best left alone.

 

[wataugachicken]

the .4 increase between tank water and tap water/tank water after water change is completely normal. tap water is under pressure in the pipes, and when it comes out of the pipes the pressure is gone and gases (like chlorine, etc. . . ) are able to escape into the air. the loss of those gases lowers the pH of the water.

not a big deal. if the tap was something like 4.5 or 9 then i would be worried, not just for the fish but for myself. anything in the 7's is wonderful.

 

[liv2padl]

actually, it's not the chlorine etc., but the carbon dioxide release. many municipal water systems contain alot of carbon dioxide. carbon dioxide is only water-soluble, when pressure is maintained .. as in the pipes which transfer water through your house. this CO2 is in equillibrium with carbonic acid ... which will lower your pH. when the water is discharged from the pipes, the pressure is released and the solubility of CO2 diminishes. the CO2 degasses to the atmosphere and the result is a higher pH as the system equillibrates to a 'normal' pH.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

no they don't. your pH is just fine and best left alone.

i agree. i would not try to change the ph. doing so will just cause more problems then good.

 

[Squealor]

I had the exact same problem and decided to 'fix' it by adding chemicals to bring down the pH. Did a lot of damage... high phosphates, algae, etc. I stopped using chemicals and my fish are much happier at the higher pH!

 

[uglylittlegirl]

Thank you so much for all of your replies! I was scared that I would have to delay putting fish in my tank for a longer period of time, you guys really are the best!