Why Would Ph Suddenly Rise In Tap Water?

[sussexgirl]

My mum (who's currently setting up her first tank) was told that the water where she lives (Crediton, Devon, UK) is very acidic and that she could keep Discus and cichlids with no problems. She's just tested her tap water with the API Master Kit and found it was 8.4, a very definite cerise pink colour. I got her do the test again whilst we were on the phone just to make sure she was using the correct bottles/amount and yes, it's 8.4.

That strikes us both as weird, do you think there is any cause for concern? Why would you get such a high reading in what is supposed to be a very soft water area?

Just curious and would appreciate any advice. Thanks

 

[saboy]

Im not sure of this but maybe it could be the pipes that supply water to your mums house maybe ? But I dont really think this is it


That is a really high reading for a soft water area, seems wierd, it should be about 6.6 or so.

I do know that water ph rises if left over night so that all the co2 can diffuse out the water, it will then give a higher reading from being tested straight out the tap,


cause with my water, it rised from 7.6 to 8.2 !

 

[Bloo]

Our tapwater here in London fluctuates anything from 7.4 - 8.6 And the nitrate levels too. Anything from 20 to such a deep red it's way off chart. Fish seem fine though And it does seem "normal" for some water companies to have such changes - from what I've read from other people's experience through the UK.

 

[sussexgirl]

Our tapwater here in London fluctuates anything from 7.4 - 8.6 And the nitrate levels too. Anything from 20 to such a deep red it's way off chart. Fish seem fine though And it does seem "normal" for some water companies to have such changes - from what I've read from other people's experience through the UK.

Thanks for your advice guys, just seemed really weird to me. Mum's kind of worried that her choice in fish will be pretty limited with a PH of 8.4. She's going to test again in a few days and ask the local aquatic shop what their PH is out the tap because he's the guy who told her it was soft in Devon.