Arghh... Ph Problems.

[Skydive]

So, I've had this 10 gallon tank for several months now. Every time I check the pH, it's too high, like 8-8.2. I feel I've tried everything. Buffers, acidifiers, peat moss, everything I could find. None of it worked. I tested the pH of the tap water straight from the faucet, and it's about 7-7.4. All my fish keep on dying, and even my Amazon Sword is showing signs of stress, even though that's been said by many people to be a very hardy plant. Recently I took out all the fish and replaced ALL the water, waited a day and then tested the pH. STILL high. I think maybe the pH is just naturally racking up regardless of whether there's anything in the water...I don't know what to do about this, I can't seem to get it to go down at all. Please help!

 

[Ch4rlie]

Hmm, I too, have naturally high pH coming from my taps and in the tank its generally 8.0 to 8.2.
 
It's not too much to worry about as long as the pH stays stable and does not give pH swings in your tank, thats possibly may be what killing your fish.
But would not think pH would affect plants, then again I know very little about live plants in tanks, hopefully someone can elaborate on that side of things.
 
If you have a naturally high pH, it is far more time and trouble than its worth to try and lower your pH levels, just not worth it really as very difficult to keep at a steady lower level for any length of time.
 
Much easier to find fish that are more suitable for high pH than trying to keep lowering the pH for your fish! 
 
Sometimes using bogwood and moss balls can lower your pH but not on a permanent basis though.
I have both in my tank, mainly as I want to make the tank water a bit more brackish as its good for my Threadfin Rainbowfish who naturally likes higher pH and brackish waters. 
 
Also the fact you have quite a small tank at 10 Gal / 35 litre tank can make controlling your water parameters a little more difficult to keep under control.
 
Can you give your other test readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates as well. This may help to give us a picture of whats happening in your tank.
 
And lastly, is your tank cycled?  
 
Thanks

 

[levahe]

Leave your tap water to stand overnight before you test it, it may have some dissolved co2 in it which can temporarily lower the pH.

 

[Skydive]

Yes, it is cycled. And I tested everything else, pH was the only thing that was off. The problem there is that the water from the tap isn't just high to begin with. It comes out like 7-7.4 then a day later after I put it into the tank, it's gone up to 8. That's what I believe was stressing them out. Here's a picture:
 
So I think what might be happening is every time I do a water change, the pH fluctuates and stresses them out. But I can't just not change the water....

 

[Sophie]

Get a pint glass, put some tap water in it. Leave it 12 - 24 hours, test the pH. 
Get a second pint glass, put the gravel in this one with the tap water and also then after 12-24 hours, test the pH.
 
I don't see anything else that could be affecting the pH..
 
Could also ring your water company and get an answer from them as to what your pH is.

We'll go from there once you have some results.

 

[Skydive]

Thank you for your suggestions, however, it is highly unlikely that the substrate is causing the rise in pH. I had different gravel before, in fact, but I changed it to the one pictured recently, which has actually been used before without issue. Still having the same problem. I already know what the pH of the water is straight from the tap because I tested it several times, it's 7-7.4.
 
I'm almost certain that the pH of the water is just increasing once it's left the tap for whatever reason, regardless of what is in it. 
 
Anyone know of any species that are not as sensitive to pH fluctuations?

 

[Sophie]

Thank you for your suggestions, however, it is highly unlikely that the substrate is causing the rise in pH. I had different gravel before, in fact, but I changed it to the one pictured recently, which has actually been used before without issue. Still having the same problem. I already know what the pH of the water is straight from the tap because I tested it several times, it's 7-7.4.
 
I'm almost certain that the pH of the water is just increasing once it's left the tap for whatever reason, regardless of what is in it. 
 
Anyone know of any species that are not as sensitive to pH fluctuations?

 
 
None that I know of.
 
 
So you're saying when you test the tap water, you did leave it 24 hours before you tested it?
 
You could have a bucket with the water ready for the water change, leave it for the pH to rise then do your change in the tank if you think it's the fluctuation stressing them?
Or does it change after it gets in the tank?

 

[Skydive]

It is looking like that's what I'm going to have to do, either that or get something that won't require as large or frequent of water changes, like a betta or something. Think a betta would be all right in there?