What's Causing My PH Levels to Rise!?

chub04

chub04

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Aug 23, 2016
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I have two tanks, one 20 gal. and one 75 gal. Both are established tanks and both are reading around 8.2-8.4 PH. I just figured this was what my tap water was, but I checked my tap water and it's around 7.8-8.0. What's causing my PH to rise in my tanks? I know rocks, substrate, decor, etc. can change PH so here is what I have in my tanks:

75 gal - white sand substrate, Malaysian driftwood, one small lava rock
20 gal - black sand substrate, Malaysian driftwood, fake silk plants, one real plant, and a fake rock decor.

Side note: My sand substrates are different brands. My 75 gal has Imagitarium White Aquarium Sand, and my 20 has black seachem flourite sand.

So what's causing my PH levels to rise? It can't be my driftwood right, because isn't that supposed to lower my PH if anything? I ask because the driftwood is the only thing that both my tanks have that's the same.

I currently have some tap water set out and I'm going to test it in a couple hours, then in 24 hours, then again in 7 days and see if it changes.

Thanks!
 
Wait to see what the aged tapwater reads. Aging allows the carbon dioxide to leave the water, thus raising pH readings.
 
chub04 said:
Is there anyway to prevent the PH to raise in this situation?
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Not really. It is probably best to not test the fresh tapwater as to not set up false expectations. Anything that you do to keep the water aerated for the fish will remove the carbon dioxide. If you simply want a lower pH, you can either adjust it with acids, or better yet get an RO unit.
 
No, because the out of tap condition is artificial, the aged value is the 'real' pH. Is there a reason you want to lower it?
 
The most important thing for water parameters is consistency. Trying to maintain a chemistry that is out of equilibrium is not beneficial for aquarium inhabitants, and very difficult at best.
 
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I'm not really looking to lower or adjust it. I just want it to be consistent, but when I do water changes isn't it going to be putting in lower PH water and thus stressing the fish? I use the Python siphon and just attach it to my sink to fill up my tank. I just don't want my PH going from 8.2 down to 7.8-8.0 then back again everytime I do a water change.
 
chub04 said:
I'm not really looking to lower or adjust it. I just want it to be consistent, but when I do water changes isn't it going to be putting in lower PH water and thus stressing the fish? I use the Python siphon and just attach it to my sink to fill up my tank. I just don't want my PH going from 8.2 down to 7.8-8.0 then back again everytime I do a water change.
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Its not really that different, and the pH will move slowly enough. You could always age your water for water changes as well. Or do a continuous water change system if you really want it consistent. :)
 
Yeah my fish don't seem stressed. Would doing two 30-40% water changes a week be better than one 50-75% change a week in this situation? Will that help shorten the range of change in PH? And is there another way to age water for water changes without using buckets? Ha I hate buckets, which is why I got the Python.
 
chub04 said:
Yeah my fish don't seem stressed. Would doing two 30-40% water changes a week be better than one 50-75% change a week in this situation? Will that help shorten the range of change in PH? And is there another way to age water for water changes without using buckets? Ha I hate buckets, which is why I got the Python.
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Smaller and more frequent is more consistent. You could age in a trash can and use a powerhead to transfer water to the aquarium. Use the Python to drain the tank and fill the can.
 
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