Ph Too High?

[rhstranger]

I am using test strips right now...from reading here I should be and will be getting a proper test kit shortly, but wanted to get the cycle started.
PH has been 8.4+ since the cycles start (2 wks ago). GH is super high as well(300ppm +) . My water is uber hard, as I basically have stalactites on my shower head.
Planning a Betta and snails 5 gal. hex tank.
Didn't know if this is going to be a problem. From what I read here, high PH isn't a huge issue, but mine seems to be higher than even the high safe.
Could it also be the strips being inaccurate?

 

[fatheadminnow]

I would get s good Liquid Base test kit to test for pH, I would not trust what you have right now.

Get a liquid test kit, and then test for pH and then post on here your findings.

API Freshwater Master Test Kit is a good liquid test kit.

-FHM

 

[rhstranger]

Will do. I'll try to scoop one up this weekend, and post back here the results.

 

[waterdrop]

The chemolithoautotrophic bacterial species we want to grow during cycling really like a high pH of 8.0 to 8.4 as optimal but will probably continue to like readings that go a little above as we'd expect the optimal growth pH to be a bell-like curve. I don't think its until you get right up towards 9 that there'd be much problem. These bacteria also like the hardness, wanting to use some of that calcium in their cell structures, so generally, being too hard is better than being too soft.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rhstranger]

So it should help out with the cycling. That's a good thing.
Thanks for the quick info.
And my new favourite word is "chemolithoautotrophic."

 

[waterdrop]

So it should help out with the cycling. That's a good thing.
Thanks for the quick info.
And my new favourite word is "chemolithoautotrophic."

My favorite part of it is that "lithotrophs" means literally "eaters of rock" (!)