Ph Gone Mad

[Aqua Tom]

I just started to fishless cycle my tank this afternoon & the PH is 9. Do I continue or do a 100% change?

 

[kporteo]

When you say youve started your cycle, have you just added your ammonia? This can alter the pH slightly, whats your ammonia level?
K

 

[Aqua Tom]

4.9ppm


see here for log so far

 

[anon02]

What make of test are you using ?

 

[kporteo]

Id test your pH tomora see what it is, if its still 9 id send Waterdrop a pm.
K

 

[Aqua Tom]

What make of test are you using ?

Nutrafin Mini Master Test Kit

 

[waterdrop]

Out of interest, why don't you change 15 or 20% (that's a pretty small amount) of the tank water with tap water that's been conditioned and roughly temp matched) and don't add back any more ammonia, then let it settle an hour and see what readings you get. I'd rather see you dosing slightly less ammonia for a bit, just to see what kind of pH numbers you come up with. WD

 

[Aqua Tom]

Out of interest, why don't you change 15 or 20% (that's a pretty small amount) of the tank water with tap water that's been conditioned and roughly temp matched) and don't add back any more ammonia, then let it settle an hour and see what readings you get. I'd rather see you dosing slightly less ammonia for a bit, just to see what kind of pH numbers you come up with. WD

Ok I have done as you suggested, a 15% ish water change. Will test it in an hour or so.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Tested the water at 1800hrs it is still 8.5

 

[waterdrop]

8.5 is where you want to be.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Its my tapwater effecting the PH. Its 7.5 when first out the tap but if I leave it in a glass overnight that changes to 9.

 

[the biffster]

what substrate and decor
have you got in your
tank

 

[Aqua Tom]

what substrate and decor
have you got in your
tank

Gravel, brand new, nice & clean, very well rinsed, no coral in it.

 

[waterdrop]

Its probably not the gravel then but if you want to rule it out even further, you can do two jars, one tap water only and one tap water plus a little bed of gravel and then compare how their pH's change, just like you did with the plain tap water (you want to do your tap water only "control" again along with it and not just take your previous result, just so its better controlled.) ...it might be that you have higher GH and lower KH, something weird like that! WD

 

[Aqua Tom]

Right I have two glasses of freshly poured tapwater. One I have left plain the other I have added some gravel from my tank. I have tested the PH in both samples & they are both 7.5.

Will check them again tomorow.