Ph Of Water In South Florida

[llamalord305]

I just got an API freshwater master test kit, and I got some pretty high pH results. Around 7.6 on the pH and 8.6 on the High Range pH. I don't think its the kit, for I've heard they are pretty reliable, so I think it may be something in the water that may make these readings inaccurate. However, I think the municipal water comes from an aquifer, which is made of limestone, which supposedly raises the pH. That's just speculation of course. Any help?

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, if the aquifer does indeed have a lot of limestone then it would raise the hardness, in turn raising the pH. If it were me I would persue understanding it (I tend to like this sort of stuff though, so take me with a grain of salt as it might be overkill, lol) by both talking with my water authority lab people on the phone and by further testing, and then I'd make notes about it in my aquarium notebook so I could come back to it later. The further testing I'd consider would be a liquid KH/GH test kit, as those readings, Carbonate Hardness and General Hardness respectively, would be interesting for you in the long run.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[drobbyb]

Your test kit is probably correct. On a good note, you can keep most african cichlids without altering your water with a calcium carbonate substrate, provided your tank is large enough.

There are a few fish that can withstand your pH, and most others can be acclimated to accept it.