Ph level very high

[xanthianacid]

Went and got the water to the 40 gallon tested again today, been trying really hard to get it over it's mini cycle it had. LFS guy said that the PH levels were very high and the only suggestion he would give was to spend $9 on PH down. Unfortunately I probably won't see that money until next Friday. (Poor Students). Is there anything else I can do, poor fishies are clamping fins and as posted before some are suffering from Ich, which I believe they will be isolated into a hospital tank. I just don't want to see them get sick or die or anything...
Is there something else I can do to get those Ph levels down?

Thanks in advance,
Xanthia

 

[Opcn]

is there something in your tank made of coral or cement perhaps, Maybe buffering substrait. PH down is rarely the option, perhaps you should test the water thats headed into your tank.

 

[The-Wolf]

you can add peat to you filter, that will lower the pH

 

[Katchan]

The water into into our tank is fine. (there is no problem with our other 2 tanks) I guess there are two possibilities.

1 - the substrate. black rock but I figure this Should be OK

2 - A Brick , regular housing type, using to hold down a large piece of driftwood till it becomes water logged enough (tell you the truth I didnt even think about this being a possible culprit until the missus just suggested it)

Katchan

 

[Mr Miagi]

Wolf, peat is just as expensive (almost) as pH down. Here anyeways

But i agree with OPCN, test the water from your tap. And if it is high, ull have to get Peat pr pH down. But if its neutral or acidic, there is something in your tank which is causing the rise in pH.

 

[Katchan]

AAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Unless my chemistry is out its the substrate rocks, looking for confirmation please.

Low ph item (couldn't find acid or vinegar in the cupboard had to use peroxide, this MAY affect the "experiment") added to alkeline item gives nice bubbles?

Katchan

PS aslo tried it on a nice chunk of garanteed nice ph neutral basalt (the black/blue type) and nothing

Edit In
I washed the rocks well (substrate and basalt - which was also in my tank) and applied the peroxide 3 time the last time for at least 5 minutes and still same effect.

Edit in twice
I'm not stealing Xanthianacids thread, she's my wife

 

[Mr Miagi]

Take the builders block out. ANd do a 30-50% water change if your fish are closing fins and arnt looking hapy.

 

[Katchan]

Yeah We will do that (take the brick out) but I'm still guessing the substrate has more to do with it, might go to sand. I only went to the black substrate at easter

Katchan

 

[Mr Miagi]

Easter was a while ago. You would have noticed it by now if it was that. Try the water change and wait a day, then re-test water. If it has still risen in pH the remove the gravel and go sand.

 

[Katchan]

Tried the brick with the peroxide test as well it reacted but not to the same degree. BTW the bricks been in there 3 weeks, the thursday after easter I think, almost as long as the substrate I'd say the two in conjunction have made a possible negligable issue bad, any opinions on this?

katchan

 

[rdd1952]

Ask the LFS what the number is? Depending on the fish you have, a high pH isn't necessarily bad and if it has been that way all along, the fish should be fine with it. It's the pH swings that cause problems with fish. For instance, if it has been at 8.6 since you set the tank up, then the fish have adjusted and you don't have a problem. If however it was at 7.0 and now it is at 8.6, then you need to figure out what caused the jump.

Be careful with large water changes, like 50%. Find out what your tap water is and also what your tank water is (I suggest buying your own test kits). Figure that after a 50% water change, it will be in the middle of those two numbers. If that is a drop of over .2, you could have a major fish loss as that is a huge change in pH since pH changes are exponential.

Driftwood is another good way to lower pH but is probably just as expensive as peat or pH Down. The big difference with DW or peat is that they are natural items and not chemicals. I would use the pH Down as an absolute last resort.

 

[Katchan]

Thanks for the help so far.
rdd, unfourtunatly the LFS I went isnt so good for numbers just really bad up good etc. Good side is I do have a master test kit in the post somewhere between Canberra and Brisbane (hope it gets here soon) I had the water tested just before I changed the substrate (a week or so) everything was fine bar mini cycle my tank was doing (overcleaning a newish tank) with moderate nitrites, but was recommended to let it go (I did and is was fine within 36 hours) All our other tanks have been testing normal for ph, I have a HUGE chunk of driftwood in the tank currently, even with that its been going up. I did a 50% water change this evening and added melafix as well.
My guess is the Jump is attributed to both a brick I've been using to weigh down the driftwood till it gets waterlogged enough and my new(ish) substrate as both react as alkali to an low ph liquid.
I have removed the brick for now and will be changing to sand as soon as I can afford it.

Katchan

And if anyone can give me a hint on how to waterlog a chunk of driftwood faster I would be in your debt (over three weeks and still happily floats ) (a smaller 6" piece in my wifes tank is now happily sunk so it will water log)

 

[rdd1952]

And if anyone can give me a hint on how to waterlog a chunk of driftwood faster I would be in your debt (over three weeks and still happily floats ) (a smaller 6" piece in my wifes tank is now happily sunk so it will water log)

I know you already have yours in the tank and that is about all you can do. When I got my driftwood, I went to Home Depot and bought a 16 gallon tub, filled it up and started soaking. The piece I bought had a piece of slate attached to the bottom but I guess it had been presoaked or something as it only took about a week until it stayed on the bottom without adding any more rocks. You might want to check the LFS or a local landscape material supplier and see if you can find some slate to weight it down with.

 

[Mr Miagi]

I soaked mine, like rdd, outside of the tank. Ths way its easier ust to use the hose to clean and refill the bucket, and it doesnt prove to be a pain in the.....in your tank! Plus, i harvested live food in the form of mosquito larvae ffrom the bucket!