Ph Issues - May Need A New Substrate?

[KrystaK]

So I'm thinking my substrate is raising my pH. I can't think of what else it could be. My tap water has a pH of 7.4-7.6, and my 30 gal tank pH is 8.0-8.2., and the same in my 20 gal.

In my 30 gal I have
A base layer of CaribSea Floromax with a top layer of CaribSea Aragonite white sand.
I have an assortment of plants, including Amazon Sword, Java Fern and Java Moss.
I have three small-medium pieces of driftwood in the tank as well as some PVC pipe for my BNP to hide in.
My filter is a Tetra Whisper Ex45.
I have fish in this tank

In my 20 gal
A little bit of residual gravel on the bottom from me not trying very hard to get it all out.
An inch and a half or so layer of CaribSea Super Naturals Tahitian Moon (Black) sand.
I also have an assortment of plants in here, in Clay pots,
I have one piece of driftwood in here,
The filter is a Marina Slim Power filter (Thinking of replacing it, it doesnt seem to be very powerful)
No fish in this tank.

Since all my substrates are made by the same company I was thinking that may be the issue - there may be something in the sand that is raising the pH to such high levels.
I'm moving at the end of the week and I'm thinking that it may be best if I switch the substrate in one of the tanks and see if that changes the pH at all. But I want a brand that someone has experience with, that hasn't changed their pH.

If anyone has any suggestions on a new substrate, not by CaribSea, or has an opinion or why my pH is so high I would love to hear them!

 

[techen]

This CaribSea stuff sounds like marine sand? Or am I wrong lol

 

[Mrsdubs]

Quick google search brought this up

CaribSea(r) Aragamax Select Aragonite

CaribSea Aragamax Select Aragonite helps maintain high pH and restore essential trace elements like calcium and magnesium to your aquarium.

 

[Electric Warrior]

I know aragonite sand will raise ph, as most freshwater people use it in African cichlid tanks, or reef systems. About aragonite sand:

[background=rgb(250, 250, 250)]"CaribSea Aragonite buffers to the highest pH and delivers more calcium, carbonate, and trace elements than any other substrate. Little or no rinsing required, aragonite keeps aquariums healthier, longer."[/background]

[background=rgb(250, 250, 250)]Not too familiar with the moon sand.[/background]

^ someone beat me to it.

 

[KrystaK]

Well the site I'm on (which is just a pet site, not the manufacturer website) Says Active Naturals will not disturb the pH, but it most certainly has affected the pH in my 20 gal. I suppose I'll have to pick up a new brand and try it out.

 

[Electric Warrior]

What about play sand? Cheap, and plecs, etc. love it, and it wont affect your ph very much.

 

[KrystaK]

If I could find straight black or straight white I would. I had blue in my 20 gal for a while, but it was so fine it got sucked into the filter - and I didn't much like the blue.

 

[KrystaK]

So I remembered I had a 20lb bag of the same brand of sand in the basement, I put a handful in water and left it, and then tested it and it' was around 7.4-7.6. But the water from my 20 gal tank that has the exact same stuff (Just different color) is 8.0. So I am thuroughly confused