So, I finally get my test kit, and as I expected, I'm still trying to get my bacteria colony going. But what I didn't expect was that my pH would be so high. My tap pH is right at 7 and my tank is around 8.2. I had to use the high pH test kit to get this result. I'm going to do a water change later this evening and test again. I have a small layer of peat moss, black sand and the driftwood in my tank. Are there any suggestions as to why my pH rose so much from my tap water?

I started my cycle before I had my test kit by dropping in a small piece of raw fish about 2 weeks ago. I'm not sure if this was a good idea or not at this point. I'm going to remove that and do a big water change tonight and plant my new plants. I will update with the parameters after the WC.

My other parameters are:

Temp: 72F (Heater is going in tonight)
Ammonia - off the chart, over 8ppm
NitrIte - 0
NitrAte- 0
PH 8.2

Cold tap water is 0 for all 3 and pH of 7.

The CO2 that is in your water gassed out overnight. I had the same problem with my water. I had to do a DIY CO2 system to bring my pH back down and keep it closer to neutral.

Don't bother doing water changes, your water will always be up over 8, so you can either go with it and try for a high alkaline tank, or try to get CO2 back in the system.

Chessie

The only way to know if your tap water changes for sure is to let it sit out for a day and test it after. Once it is in your tank you will not know if it is an issue with the tank or not.

Take a sample and sit it out to test later and then go from there.

Ok, I'll try the water overnight on the counter and test in the am. The ph after the water change was 7.8, ammonia .5. I didn't bother with nitrite and nitrite seeing as how they were 0 before and 0 from the tap.

How long have you been trying to cycle? I had a tank that absolutely would not go until I put something live in it. Then it turned over really quickly.

Chessie

Trying for 4 weeks. Left the water out overnight in 2 glasses, one with sand and one just water. Both had a rise in pH. Plain water was about 7.6 and with sand was closer to 8. Tank water overnight was at 7.4. I will rest again this evening. Ammonia was .5ish after water chane and the same this am. I'm going to have a friend of mine with a healthy tank bring me some gravel in tank water tomorrow.

I will also dose the tank back up to 4 ppm ammonia once I have the gravel in there.

Good idea, you should be close.

Good luck!