Ph 8.5 With A Jd?

[sharpshark]

Just used a more accurate PH test on my tank before a water change and it read 8.5, I tested my tap water and it is exactly the same, 8.5, which is no surprise as we are in a hard water area.

Reading on the JD care page, is says mildly hard water is suitable.

Is 8.5 mildly high or do I need to bring it down, and if I do whats the best way other than adding chems.

Thanks

 

[vancouver]

What's the water like at the lfs you plan on buying this Jd from?

Their ph must be pretty similar I would think.

 

[sharpshark]

No,
I already own this JD, hes around a couple of months old, most of the LFS around here use RO water.

 

[idlefingers]

Although related, Ph does not equate to hardness. I'm not sure if 8.5 is a little on the high side side for a CA cichlid..

 

[nmonks]

Indeed. While lowering the pH looks easy to do, doing so without changing the hardness as well is pointless, and perhaps even unhelpful. Inexperienced aquarists often focus on pH because it is easy to test and easy to understand. But it actually isn't very important. Fish don't feel pH, they respond to hardness, or more specifically total dissolved solids. That's what effects their ability to osmoregulate. So, determine the general and carbonate hardness levels, and act accordingly. Anything up to around 25 degrees dH and 15 degrees KH should be well within the tolerances of a Jack Dempsey, though unlike most other Central Americans, they are fish from relatively soft and acidic rainforest streams and swamps (if I recall correctly).

Think of pH as a useful shorthand way to describe water chemistry, but nothing more.

Cheers, Neale

Although related, Ph does not equate to hardness. I'm not sure if 8.5 is a little on the high side side for a CA cichlid..

 

[sharpshark]

Thanks, very informative, I will go and buy a couple more test kits and act accordingly.

Cheers

 

[sharpshark]

Well the verdict is 19GH and 10KH, so I guess I was worrying about nothing, but still at least I learnt something new, and it forced me to shell out for the tests which I can now use to see how much CO2 my diy reactor is cranking out in my low tech planted!!

 

[nmonks]

Absolutely normal for Southern England, and people keep neon tetras happily enough in that! One plus point is that the water chemistry in your tank will be very stable, so once you're fish are adapted to local conditions, they won't have to worry about background changes, such as acidification.

Cheers, Neale

Well the verdict is 19GH and 10KH, so I guess I was worrying about nothing...

 

[sharpshark]

Great, I will leave that water as is, as for my planted, well thats an issue for the planted forum!
Thanks for your help Neal