Quote:
Originally Posted by robert_jun
Hi I am new to the forums and just starting my Freshwater Aquarium, seeking help.
Goal - To Set up the tank for tetra's ( red cardinals, and black skirts ) wanting my PH to be Slightly Acidic.
and wanting know if anyone knows what to do to bring my PH levels down since its spiking so early in development.
Day 4 ( exchanged water 2 times to try to bring the PH down. had been sitting for over 24 hours but rising slowly again in PH.
Current PH = 8
did a ammonia and nitrite test just to see if the plants were doing anything
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrite = 0
( cycle hasn't started )
The freshwater Aquarium which is 20 gallons fitted with a BioWheel 200 penguin, I have Art Rock for my substrate ( was rinsed before putting in ) Some Drift wood which I Boiled for hours before placing it in the Aquarium ) Two live plants which are not very big at the moment. high PH of 8
I originally filled the tank with roughly half brita filtered and half tap water ( tap water ( fossit water ) here in Los Angeles is coming out 7.2/7.4) to get my PH entering the Aquarium tank at 6.5 PH (de- chlorinate using tetra Aquasafe ) 
6.5 entering into the tank and rising to 8.
The Cycle hasn't even started and I'm having problems with the PH, I also don't wish to use chemicals for a quick fix.
any help would be much appreciated !!!
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There is a highly technical term for your conditions in tanks that have live plants.
it is called (drum roll please) Ta da.......
NORMAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Plants prefer to consume ammonia over nitrates and consume carbon dioxide as well. So initially in my planted tank there are no ammonia nor nitrIte spikes but possibly an initial nitrates spike. then as the aerobic bacteria build up there is less and less ammoinia so the plants start getting their nitrogen from nitrates. So after a few weeks nitrates drop down.
By consuming carbon dioxide the plants cause high pH. I have started tanks with peat moss and soil master select both of which should result in low pH values. And the pH was initially 6.5 or so. But a day later the pH was up to 7.2 and a week later 8.4-8.8 with the high range api test kit. All my planted tanks have those values of pH because the plant action. Including my marine tanks. And before I added macro algaes in a marine tank with a heavy bioload the pH was 7.6 or lower. It rose to 8.0-8.2 in 24 hours and then to 8.4-8.8 a week later. All the tanks run at that pH for years.
My Fw tanks with fish (that are supposed to have soft acid water and pH values of 7 or less) live for years and years. They also are very active and show no signs of heavy breathing or other signs of stress. This is true for zebras, neon tetras, angelfish, hacetfish.
If you think about the effect of the plants, they are preventing ammonia spikes, consuming carbon dioxide and returning oxygen. So the tank becomes a net consumer of carbon dioxide and producer of oxygen every 24 hour period. That would seem to be a very good environment for any fish.
My FW tanks additionally have no circulation, no filters, no water changes, no co2, no dosing, and use untreated tap water (just for top offs). Just the tank, substrate, light, plants and fish.
With that setup I would be very worried if the pH dropped. That would mean something was very very worng.
So my advice is not to do massive water changes or add chemicals because the pH is too high. Those will kill the tank not the high pH.
still all and all just
my .02
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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks.
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden
High PH in tank - seeking help
