High (basic) Ph Levels?

[Here fishy fishy fishy]

Greetings,

I have a 55gal and a 10gal freshwater tank setup for months now and have discovered that I have a consistent high PH level problem. I've tried a generic Ph Decreaser with little success. Every week when test time comes, I get the same high PH results. Can anyone suggest a solution and maybe a reason as to why this is happening? They both have penguin filtration systems, the larger one with bio-wheels. I also use Aquarium salt. I do water changes bi-weekly and change the filters regularly when water flow gets slow. I never over feed them (once a day). Fish consist of mollies, tetras, platy's, pleco's, cory's, gourami, betta, swordtails, and a few others.

Thanks

PS - The dalmation mollies have given birth succusfully in these conditions recently.

 

[monkeyman]

Greetings,

I have a 55gal and a 10gal freshwater tank setup for months now and have discovered that I have a consistent high PH level problem. I've tried a generic Ph Decreaser with little success. Every week when test time comes, I get the same high PH results. Can anyone suggest a solution and maybe a reason as to why this is happening? They both have penguin filtration systems, the larger one with bio-wheels. I also use Aquarium salt. I do water changes bi-weekly and change the filters regularly when water flow gets slow. I never over feed them (once a day). Fish consist of mollies, tetras, platy's, pleco's, cory's, gourami, betta, swordtails, and a few others.

Thanks

PS - The dalmation mollies have given birth succusfully in these conditions recently.

what is the pH of your source water & what is the pH of your tank water?

 

[cujoho78]

Hi. As long as your pH is at about 8.5 or less then i wouldn't worry about your pH. Most fish can adapt to a pH from the 6s to the 8s. The main thing is to keep whatever pH your water is at stable because it is the fluctuations in pH that will bother you more. It is the KH or carbonate hardness of the water that is working hard against you to keep the pH where it is. You can search and read up on water hardness and KH if you like. It's a rather complicated subject to explain. If your fish are doing ok, then i wouldn't play with it too much.

 

[Here fishy fishy fishy]

Hi. As long as your pH is at about 8.5 or less then i wouldn't worry about your pH. Most fish can adapt to a pH from the 6s to the 8s. The main thing is to keep whatever pH your water is at stable because it is the fluctuations in pH that will bother you more. It is the KH or carbonate hardness of the water that is working hard against you to keep the pH where it is. You can search and read up on water hardness and KH if you like. It's a rather complicated subject to explain. If your fish are doing ok, then i wouldn't play with it too much.

Generally speaking they are doing great. Their have been a couple deaths within 1-2 months of purchase but the rest in there have been alive for almost a year now and have survived a few moves as well! I believe last I checked the pH in the tanks was around 7.8.

 

[cujoho78]

I believe last I checked the pH in the tanks was around 7.8.

Hi. Ya that's about what my pH is. I just leave mine alone and everyone is happy and well. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[Here fishy fishy fishy]

Thanks guys and gals for the answers

 

[cujoho78]

No problem, i'm glad to hear that everything is going well!