Ph In My New Tank

[robertsskippyj]

I have a new tank and am new to this to. The Tank is a Juwel rio 180 l live planted with what is meant to be an inert gravel substrate. Testing the water I noticed I have a PH of between 7.8 and 8.0 going on the colour chart. That seems strange to me is that i tested my tap water and thats ph 7.2
What could be causing this and will I have to lower it some how to keep some banded gourami?

 

[XeroTolerance]

I don't know what is causing it. All I can help you with is that firstly, did you cycle your tank? If not check out this link. Second, most failures in beginners fish tanks is that the aquatist tries and alters the pH level totally killing all of their fish. I've seen it many times. The gouramis will adjust to your water. Just make sure to use a good accumulation method. The drip-method is the best for that situation.

 

[robertsskippyj]

I don't know what is causing it. All I can help you with is that firstly, did you cycle your tank? If not check out this link. Second, most failures in beginners fish tanks is that the aquatist tries and alters the pH level totally killing all of their fish. I've seen it many times. The gouramis will adjust to your water. Just make sure to use a good accumulation method. The drip-method is the best for that situation.

Hi Thanks for the reply,

The tank is doing a fishless cycle at the moment the gouramis will be bought and added when this is complete.

After reading the problem people are getting when the chemically adjust the ph constantly I was not going to do that.

I was wondering more how its happening and if the Gouramis would aclimatise to this level of PH

 

[ZoddyZod]

do you know what the gravel is called?

What else do you have in your tank? Any rocks at all?

 

[robertsskippyj]

do you know what the gravel is called?

What else do you have in your tank? Any rocks at all?

If i remember correctly the make is Betta and its there bog standard aquarium and pond gravel looks exactly like the stone gravel shale type stuff at the bottom of the river at the bottom of my garden.

There are no rocks, There are live plants that I would have to check the labels when I get home to tell you what they are and 2 huge silk ones at the back that are there until the live ones do a bit of growing.

Thanks.

 

[ZoddyZod]

in that case I don't know why your pH is going up after being introduced to the tank. Maybe someone else has an idea....

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Hi, I recently did a fishless cycle, and the pH in my tap water was 7.6. After the cycle had completed, the combo of the ammonia, nitrite and nitrates had lowered the pH of the tank. I think that it should be okay because you are doing a fishless cycle, and once the filter is established you should (if your tank does anything like mine did) see it level out at 6.8-7.2. If it doesn't, then I have no idea why. I would just wait and see what happens while it cycles. Please don't alter the pH using chemicals (I know you said you weren't going to, I am just saying ). I made that mistake and the effects were pretty harsh. I lost 4 of my first tank members.

 

[robertsskippyj]

in that case I don't know why your pH is going up after being introduced to the tank. Maybe someone else has an idea....

Ok, thanks for having a think on the subject for me.

 

[robertsskippyj]

Hi, I recently did a fishless cycle, and the pH in my tap water was 7.6. After the cycle had completed, the combo of the ammonia, nitrite and nitrates had lowered the pH of the tank. I think that it should be okay because you are doing a fishless cycle, and once the filter is established you should (if your tank does anything like mine did) see it level out at 6.8-7.2. If it doesn't, then I have no idea why. I would just wait and see what happens while it cycles. Please don't alter the pH using chemicals (I know you said you weren't going to, I am just saying ). I made that mistake and the effects were pretty harsh. I lost 4 of my first tank members.

Ok thanks I will wait until the tank has cycled properly first. When I first noticed the problem I had a nose at how to drop my PH and found the diasterous affects that chemically altering your ph can cause on various websites. Which is why I came here to see if any of the much more experienced than myself would know why and if my intended purchase would cope with a ph of 8 if it didn't drop.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Hi, I recently did a fishless cycle, and the pH in my tap water was 7.6. After the cycle had completed, the combo of the ammonia, nitrite and nitrates had lowered the pH of the tank. I think that it should be okay because you are doing a fishless cycle, and once the filter is established you should (if your tank does anything like mine did) see it level out at 6.8-7.2. If it doesn't, then I have no idea why. I would just wait and see what happens while it cycles. Please don't alter the pH using chemicals (I know you said you weren't going to, I am just saying ). I made that mistake and the effects were pretty harsh. I lost 4 of my first tank members.

Ok thanks I will wait until the tank has cycled properly first. When I first noticed the problem I had a nose at how to drop my PH and found the diasterous affects that chemically altering your ph can cause. Which is why I came here to see if any of the much more experienced than myself would know why and if my intended purchase would cope with a ph of 8 if it didn't drop.

Yeah, I think it will. I have to do light water changes twice a week to keep the pH up now! I am able to keep it about 7.0 even though my tap water is rather high without chemical help. Best of luck and let us know what happens.

 

[robertsskippyj]

Hi, I recently did a fishless cycle, and the pH in my tap water was 7.6. After the cycle had completed, the combo of the ammonia, nitrite and nitrates had lowered the pH of the tank. I think that it should be okay because you are doing a fishless cycle, and once the filter is established you should (if your tank does anything like mine did) see it level out at 6.8-7.2. If it doesn't, then I have no idea why. I would just wait and see what happens while it cycles. Please don't alter the pH using chemicals (I know you said you weren't going to, I am just saying ). I made that mistake and the effects were pretty harsh. I lost 4 of my first tank members.

Ok thanks I will wait until the tank has cycled properly first. When I first noticed the problem I had a nose at how to drop my PH and found the diasterous affects that chemically altering your ph can cause. Which is why I came here to see if any of the much more experienced than myself would know why and if my intended purchase would cope with a ph of 8 if it didn't drop.

Yeah, I think it will. I have to do light water changes twice a week to keep the pH up now! I am able to keep it about 7.0 even though my tap water is rather high without chemical help. Best of luck and let us know what happens.

Thanks for the advice i'll update as and when anything happens.

 

[Essjay22 137]

Try testing a glass of water that's stood for 24 hours. It's rarely the same as freshly drawn tapwater. My pH goes up by 0.2 on standing, but I've heard of much bigger changes than that.