ph level

Lisa

My water's ph level is at 8. My fishes used to be in the 7.4-7.6 level. I do water change regularly. The only change I made was adding one more driftwood, so now I have three in there plus I've also added some floating plants in the water. No new fishes in there .... what could have caused the ph level to rise? How do I lower it without adding those ph increase or decresase chemicals in the water????

tropical1

have you checked tyhe ph level coming straight out the tap?

Tommy Gun

Hey Lisa,

At this point, I would say "don't panic" just yet, but instead continue monitoring your pH just to make sure it isn't changing too wildly. However, I believe that your plants may cause a pH change which is not a big deal at all (you might want to pose that question in the planted tank sub-forum). In general, your fish can survive in a wide range of pH so this is why I wouldn't panic.

Some things to consider:

• Try to take into account multiple aspects of water chemistry in cases like this. For example, pH changes are - in general - closely related to the Kh of the water....and plants to some degree or another.
• Adding decorative items such as certain types of rock - including substrate - and wood do impact water chemistry to some extent (again, knowing the Kh of the water can help you get an idea of how much of a change could occur)

Jay

Hey Lisa...

In order to really help or answer your questions we need more information.

I assume this is the 33 gallon.
How heavily is it planted?
What are your parameter readings KH GH pH Temp.?
What are your tap water readings KH GH pH?
What is your light source in Watts per gallon, and how long are they on?
What is the substrate?
Is the decoration "driftwood" or "Bog wood" and had it been processed (smoothed, sanded, weighted, pre soaked etc.) in some way before you put it in the tank?
What, if any, additives do you put in the tank?
Do you use filtration chemicals?
Any chemicals?


That information will help us take a good look at what is going on.

IMO, I do not think this has anything to do with plants.

Regards,
Jay

somerton16

i think i have read somewhere that driftwood will alter the water somehow. i dont have any in my tank so i wouldnt know from experience. hope that helps some.

Splash Spooky

It usually lowers the ph that is why Jay is asking what kind of wood is in the tank.

Draco

New Here to the forums.

Wondering if anyone knows how Mopani wood affects the pH?

Is it like most woods and lowers it? Mine has been pre-soaked, bleed a little in my tank, but is stable now.

Tommy Gun

I am not sure but I would assume that could lower pH. However, no matter what you add that might have some affect on the pH of an aquarium - whether might raise or lower it - the extent of the change is going to vary from tank to tank - meaning Mopani wood might not change anything for you where it might change things dramatically for someone else.

Jay

I agree with Tommy, Mopani wood is probably the least reactive when it comes to pH alteration.

Most of us senior guys here tend not to be "pH control freaks"

The tannin will soften the water some, and the pH will go down a little "shrug" not really an issue either way.

Regards,
Jay