Whoa - High Ph

[guitarfish]

My tapwater pH is 6.3. I filled a new tank a few days ago, figuring I'd add some baking soda to raise the pH when I got a chance.
In the meantime, I added a couple large rocks from my area (I live in the mountains), and a put a bed of small round river stones in the tank.
I checked the pH tonight and it is 7.8 ! What on earth! I tested the tapwater with an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals kit as well as with a pH pen that I have, and then I tested the tank water. It seems pretty clear that the tank water has shot up.
Any ideas why/how?

Thanks !

 

[jayjay]

The rocks may have caused it or you could of over done the baking soda.

 

[guitarfish]

I didn't actually add any baking soda yet, is the thing.

 

[Boxermom]

Personally speaking, I wouldn't add any rocks (or anything else for that matter) unless I was absolutely certain without a doubt that it is safe for my fish. Rocks can have all sorts of properties that are detrimental to aquaria.

 

[guitarfish]

Rocks can have all sorts of properties that are detrimental to aquaria.

Can you elaborate a little? What kind of properties? Toxins? Minerals?

 

[Boxermom]

Yes. Both.

 

[TrueNoob]

Rocks can have all sorts of properties that are detrimental to aquaria.

Can you elaborate a little? What kind of properties? Toxins? Minerals?

if they arent quarinteened there can be alot of problems, bacteria, algae, minerals, toxins, you name it it may be there

 

[Bignose]

Take a new sample of tap water and let it sit out over night. Test that water, sometimes water companies put a lot of CO2 in their water so that mineral build up is lessened. You have to let this CO2 dissipate to get a true reading.

 

[wodesorel]

Acidicater will disolve rocks - and obviously this is happening in your tank because your pH has risen. Unless you know the mineral content of the rocks - even if they were boiled/baked/bleached before hand - there could be some nasty stuff leeching into your tank water right now.

 

[guitarfish]

I appreciate the feedback everyone, thank you. I was under the assumption that since rocks occur naturally in rivers and streams as part of the natural habitat, that it would be something to emulate in a tank. Since it's a new tank, it's just beginning the cycle process, there won't be any fish for at least 3-4 weeks.

 

[Boxermom]

Water in rivers and streams is constantly refreshed, so any toxicity is minimized by the fish not actually sitting in it constantly. Not so in aquaria. In addition, unless you have fish from the same stream or river, who may have built up an immunity or adjusted to the environment, it will be a foreign environment for the fish.