Ph level

8.1? Yeah, I'd be getting a bit worried, too. Test your tap water like JSchmidt recommended. If you find that the tap pH stays stable, then there must be something in your tank raising the pH.

Did you get your gravel from a fish store? It's possible that some of the gravel has started leaching into the water, and you may have just tested gravel that hadn't...

Also, plants aren't likely to effect your pH. Since you don't have any fish in your tank you can spend some time trying to figure out what's raising your pH (for that much of a shift, there most be a cause...).
 
Sorry I forgot to mention that I tested my tap water like suggested, That kept jumping between 7.99 and 8.09. Im worried that as where I am has just between declared a drought effected area they have changed where the water comes from, not our normal reserve. And yup my gravel is from my local fish shop, he told he he tested it before he bagged it, and I tested it when I got home. Im rather stuck and really appricate the help im getting, i'm just hoping soon I can find the answer to my problem.
 
well...if the problem is the water (which you can tell by setting aside some tap water and testing it) it should stay pretty constant. If you are concerned about it being too high, you could TEMPORARILY use distilled water until you get back to your original water source. Or try using natural spring water...it still contains enough minerals. And, feed your fish well during this period. Spring water is a MUCH better option.

It sounds to me like it very well may be your gravel (despite the fizz test...sometimes the acid in vinegar can't make it fizz). I would think about removing all the gravel and leaving it as bare bottom until you can get some you KNOW is 100% safe...the fish won't mind - I promise:)

You can think about using some black water extract...if it syour water thats the problem. Its kind of expensive, and will color the water, but it lowers the pH. You can also MAYBE think about setting up a CO2 system to lower the pH...however the initial drop is another big shift in pH.


It sounds to me like its the gravel, especially if it keeps rising. I'd remove it to be on the SAFE side...and if it turns out to be something else, you were better safe than sorry:)
 
What else is in the tank besides gravel?

If this is a cycling tank (no fish) then the pH can fluctuate as a result of the bacterial processes--fairly normal. You'll need to check the hardness of the water as well, and these factors can impact the stability of the water for pH. Hard water tends to be more stable than soft water. Check to see if your tap water goes through a softener process as well.

If the water is changing after aging, something else is going on. Run the same test, but make sure to use a large, open mouthed container, like a glass bowl, and agitate it very well. Water that has gassed off excess CO2 should be stable--the fact that yours is not indicates something else is going on.
 
There is gravel, and power heads and the intake and outlet of my canister filter. The Ph stopped rising today and held steady at 8.13 and its hasnt budged and inch higher. Im happy thats its stopped moving, will that just mean it was raising up against my Ph Down that I had put in it? But am now happy that it has stopped going up. Now should I let my cycle run its course, then decide on what to do? Thank you all.
 
In the first week of cycling my 10gal the Ph was running around 7.8 and jumping around a bit. I think Oriongirl was probably spot on (big surprise there) when she said it could be the cycling that is throwing the Ph off. By the end of the first week of cycling my tank had leveled off at 7.2 where it now stays.

Hopefully thats whats going on with yours.
 
Ok with my nitrate, nitrite and ammonia levels at either 0 or below anything I should be worried about and With my Ph level still rather high (was jumping around at 7.9). What can I put in the water to drop the Ph? Ph Down doesnt seem to be working that well as the water rebounds back to a high level in a few hours time. Thank you, the help is VERY MUCHLY appricated!!! :D
 
Unless you are trying to breed soft water fish, don't try to modify your pH. And, please, do not use the chemical products--their effects are usually limited, and can cause a host of other problems (like algae blooms from the phosphates in these products). If you must reduce the pH, if this is a planted tank adding CO2 will help. Some driftwood, or a baggie of peat in the filter, will also help. However--a stable, high pH is better for fish than one that jumps around.
 
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