Interpreting PH- my tap is 7.4, tank is 8.4?

I

injunear

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Mar 10, 2008
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Here's something I don't quite understand.....

I just bought an API Master Test Kit and retested everything, however, I did not have a pH Liquid Test kit before so I didn't know what the pH is.

I tested my tap water and it's 7.4. I tested the tank pH and it's 8.4!

Once again:
>The tank's 35g.

>I have a HOB filter with Bio-Max as media (nothing else other than the sponge on intake). http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/info/22870/size/24/off/24/sortby/1/category.web

>UGF with reverse flow Penguin Power Head and another sponge on intake

>Sponge filter on air pump

> 4" airstone

> NO LIVE PLANTS- all silk aquarium safe plants

> Center piece, "aquarium safe"

> 200 watt heater

>gravel, coated- http://www.naturesocean.com/pure_water_coat.htm


What do you think? Why is tank pH much higher than Tap water pH?

Could this be a problem cycling?

P.S. NitrIate is approx 1.0 ppm (as best I can tell)
NitrAte is 10~20
Ammonia is 4~5 ppm
 
Probably not a cycling issue, typically they lower PH rather then raise it.

The next thing you need to do is test a glass of tap water that has sat overnight.
It's very common for tap water to contain high(er) levels of co2 disolved in it, which lowers PH until the co2 offgasses.
It's fairly likely that if you remove the co2 your tap water is the same 8.4ph as the tank.
 
Ok, but is 8.4 a problem or will it lower when the cycle is complete?
One other parameter that appears higher than "normal" is KH at about 15....
 
Bobnova said:
Probably not a cycling issue, typically they lower PH rather then raise it.

The next thing you need to do is test a glass of tap water that has sat overnight.
It's very common for tap water to contain high(er) levels of co2 disolved in it, which lowers PH until the co2 offgasses.
It's fairly likely that if you remove the co2 your tap water is the same 8.4ph as the tank.
Click to expand...

Ok, I used some "aged" water from a waterfall ornament we have. It's the same as the tank; 8.4 or higher......
Now what?
 
Livebearers will definitely like the higher pH. Other common aquarium fish will be fine, I keep my community around 8.0...more likely than not your LFS will have similar water as you if they are close, but it never hurts to ask. Just carefully acclimate (like normal) and there shouldnt be problems...
 
Hmm, in case nobody's ever noticed the search function won't allow 2-letter words such as KH, GH so researching some of these issues are difficult here in these forums....

Anyway, I Googled it and found a couple of articles that said I should wait until the cycle is complete to worry about the PH, and one that said that if I wanted to lower the PH when I have very high KH that peat is probably the way to go...

I'll wait for the cycle to finish to allow everything to settle out before doing anything.

The reason I went off on this is that I was afraid that the PH would inhibit, or prolong the cycle but that seems to be unfounded.
 
I wouldn't worry about it.
Some fish like guppies, mollies, and maybe platies may well like it better the harder it is (or may not, nothing conclusive has been proven. They certainly won't dislike it though!), others not so much.
That is not water for cardinal tetras, for instance.

Most tank bred aquarium fish will be just fine with it, as they are acclimated and re-evolved to match the waters they are bred in, generally asian tap water.
(Cardinals are generally wild caught in the amazon)


Having lots of KH is far better for the cycle then having only a little bit, i don't think there is a level that KH inhibits the bacteria (within reason, a ph of 13 wouldn't be so good), but no kh will kill the bacteria.


All in all, you're just fine.
 
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