Ph Question

[jkusnierz]

Why would 1 of my tanks have a pH reading of 8.0 (125 gallon) and the other tank have a pH reading of 7.0 (90 gallon)? Each tank has almost the exact same set up with the only difference is the 125 has more live plants and different type of fish. 125 has mostly med to larger cichlids. Now i feel like i should know this answer from being in the hobby as long as i have been but i seem to be drawing a blank... Now both tanks have just been set up new because i moved but i used the media that was in the filters so it didnt have to do the whole entire cycle. My water out of the tap tested at a pH of 6.71 so i understand the slight bump up in pH but not to the degree of 8.0. each filter has the same exact media the no pH buffers. can anyone shed some light on this? thanks if you need more info just ask and i will try and provide you the info needed!!!!

 

[TwoTankAmin]

What about the substrates in each tank? What about the types of wood and rock? Are you fertilizing them with similar concentrations of things?

 

[jkusnierz]

Both tank have the same exact sand sand bought at the same time and washed at the same time. The 125 has a rock cave (large) and driftwood the 90 has just 1 piece of driftwood the same size. The rock never made a difference in my last house thats what I'm confused about could it just be the cycling that is making a pH difference? And I have only done 1 dosing of fert and it was done to the directions on the bottle.