Help Ph Problems

[Tracy10]

Hi,
My tapwater ph has always been a steady 8.but for last week its gone to 7.4...now this is puzzling me as water that was at 7.4 and left to stand overnight tested at 8 again,but 2 minutes later tested at 7.4.

My fish are dying,tank was at 8,which i know is high,but now reading 8.2.

so dont know what to do now,how on earth do i know my true tapwater ph???

 

[Spooky76]

Hey Tracy10,

Your PH will vary according to many factors. Temperature, 02/c02 content etc.

Normally there is some variance in it, both on your test kit and the water itself.

if your sure its your tap water thats at fault, then reduce it by adding PH7.0 or 7.5 or whatever you normally have. You can buy it from most LFS.

Just be aware that your PH effects your ammonia levels, well it increases the toxicity of it, so make sure your ammonia etc are kept low with water changes.

Unless you have a digital meter its hard to know exactly what it is, but a test kit should show a rough indication of it.

Is it the water in your tank thats gone to 7.2 or your tap water ? Your tank is now 8.2 and its usually 8 ?

 

[Tracy10]

The tank has been a steady 8,but now at 8.2

Tapwater always 8,but last week been 7.4,but results very confusing,as when i tested tapwater left overnight,it read at 8 then changed to 7.4 in matter of minutes.

definatly something wrong with my fish,all acting odd.everything tested in tank fine...Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 15 but ph 8.2, dont knoW what to do for them.They were fine until tapwaters been all over the place.

 

[Spooky76]

In theory you should have enough buffer to help with that. Its normal for PH to decrease over time but not increase.

All I can suggest is that you get some PH 8.0 I think from API at your local LFS, it should sort the problem out.

Your PH will vary a little even out the tap.

Its good that your ammonia etc is fine.

Do you have a fish shop you could get water from instead ? is it the same in all the houses around you ?