Tap Water PH Issue

[TetraFreak]

I just tested my tap water and it's at a PH level of 8

My tank has been doing fine with this water for 5+ years but I'd prefer to lower it a bit to be safe.

What are some of the easiest ways to compensate for this and lower the PH?

 

[Larissa]

Don't lower it at all. As you've seen already, most fish will do fine in the high pH. If you plan to buy more fish make sure you slowly acclimate them to your pH when you bring them home.

 

[TetraFreak]

Don't lower it at all. As you've seen already, most fish will do fine in the high pH. If you plan to buy more fish make sure you slowly acclimate them to your pH when you bring them home.

Well, acclimation is a good thing as my LFS that I swear by, been in business for 50 years, has High PH in store as well! Transitioning new fish is relatively easy on the fish!

I just get a little concerned about it being at 8.0 out of the tap.

 

[Larissa]

One thing I would suggest is to put some untreated tapwater in a bowl and let it sit overnight. See if the pH is the same as before the next morning to get a true pH reading. Also, how big is your tank? (Before I suggest ways to lower the pH safely)

 

[IceH2O]

My water is 6 out of the tap but 7 in my tank.What are the PH readings in your tank?

 

[TetraFreak]

Tank is a Tall 25 w/Eclipse II hood/filter


PH in the tanks are still at about 8.0

 

[Larissa]

Well, I really think that you should just leave the pH alone. I think the fish should be fine, however, if you really want to lower the pH of your water, mix your tap water with r/o (distilled water is the same thing) until you get the pH you want.

 

[rrkss]

If your fish have been doing well why worry about lowering the pH. Just gives you a hassle since your waterchanges now severely change the chemistry of your tank once it is lower. As the old mantra goes "If it aint broke dont fix it". I am impressed that your plants are doing as well as you say they do. A high pH usually prevents them from obtaining their needed minerals from the water column but I assume that they adapted.

 

[RTR]

Excuse me, but horsefeathers. There are many, many tanks fully planted and doing quite well with pH 8 water. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" still applies fully. I have over a dozen fully planted tanks, more lightly planted, and all do just fine. Please don't get yet another myth started and prompt folks to do unneeded water mods, which commonly result in more problems than it "solves" by a huge margin. Light, ferts, and a carbon source count. The pH within the range 6.0 to 8.0 or 8.2 does not.

 

[Teelie]

Yeah, I wouldn't mess with water chemistry either unless it's just absolutely necessary. Usually, trying to alter the pH throws off some other balances in the water which need corrected, which throw off the pH or something else. It gets pretty difficult to maintain an artificial pH just for the sake of it.