okay heres my readings

[sinistral]

Also, adding live plants will most likely raise the pH if anything. Live plants give off oxygen which will raise pH.

Out of curiosity, how does oxygen raise pH? I inquire mainly because I don't think it does, and was wondering if you knew something I didn't...

 

[phishluvr]

You know, phishluvr, I had a stable pH of 6.0 in my 55 for quite some time!

wow! and I thought mine was low. what's your setup?

 

[guppygirl]

Sinistral~ Plants give off oxygen, and they use co2, or carbonic acid. Carbonic acid keeps the ph low (hence when you add co2 the ph drops), when the plants use it, there isn't any buffering left, so the ph spikes. This is why I had to add my co2 because the ph was raising alot in a week.
phishluvr~ I have well water that comes out of the tap at 6.1, and considering I have a small peice of driftwood in the tank, it was probably 5.8, just my test wouldn't read it. I just have a freshwater planted tank.

But remember the amazon climate's water has a ph in the 5's too, shows you how adaptable fish are!

 

[phishluvr]

guppygirl - I forgot about the driftwood factor. Being as I have a ton of wood in my tank, this could be my pH factor as well.

I've heard fish can be acclamated to a desired pH by slowly increasing tank water to quarantine water ratios over a 48-72 hr period. It would seem that would be true within reason. I doubt an Africian chiclid could adjust to a 6.0.

 

[sinistral]

Sinistral~ Plants give off oxygen, and they use co2, or carbonic acid. Carbonic acid keeps the ph low (hence when you add co2 the ph drops), when the plants use it, there isn't any buffering left, so the ph spikes. This is why I had to add my co2 because the ph was raising alot in a week.

guppygirl,

Thanks for that clarification However, I was asking about rdd's point that O2 itself independently raises pH, which I don't believe occurs.

 

[guppygirl]

No, you are right, sinistral, oxygen in itself does not raise ph. It may seem to when you add for instance an airstone and the ph goes up- this is because the oxygen disturbs the surface, and increases the gas exchange. The carbonic acid gets 'bubbled' out of the water.