Ph Spike?

[CrystalClear16]

My PH has always been 7.6, my tap water is 7.4.

I upgraded my tank last weekend from a 50L to a 125L. I moved everything over to the new tank (sand, ornaments, mature media etc) in order to keep the bacteria.

To be on the safe side I have been doing regular tests. Yesturday the ammonia showed at 0.25 and PH at 8.2. I did a 50% water change, waited half an hour and tested again. The ammonia had dropped and the PH showed at 7.4. I tested again today:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 15
PH - 8.2

Why is my PH so high when my tap water is low? I don't have anything new aside from the actual tank - no new fish or ornaments.

Stocking:
6 clown loaches (which should be kept at 7-7.6 PH I believe)
3 platies
2 mollies
1 gourami
3 fry
2 neons (getting more shortly)

I don't really want to have to use chemicals to lower the PH, I would rather do it naturally.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

This was a question last week actually. I think it's to do with the ammonia in your tap water.

If you measure your tap water fresh out the tap and measure it 24 hours later (so let it stand somewhere); measure it again and they will be different!

Did you regularly measure the pH in your other tank or was it just tap water pH?

 

[CrystalClear16]

Oops sorry - must have missed it last week

My old tank always used to show as 7.6 - BUT I have just realised I have been making a rookie mistake I was using the low range PH kit (which goes up to 7.6) before, and this time I used the high range. Perhaps it has always been high and I didn't realise because I was using the wrong kit >.<

I will get some tap water and leave it for 24hrs then test again.

How can I lower the PH anyway? I read somewhere about adding wood to the tank, I have a bit of bogwood that has been sat out of the tank for a few months now so is totally dried out - would that still work?