Tropical Fish Forums

[myhamster]

Hi,
I've tested my tap water and aquarium water, and it seems that the pH is 8.0. That seems really really high.

I have a blue gourami, sunset gourami, 1 female betta, white clouds, and red cherry and amano shrimp. I think the fish I have don't care too much about the pH, but how does high pH affect the shrimps?

Do other people who use city tap water have very high pH?

Thanks!
Eric

[Minsc]

A lot of the country has hard/high pH water. Some places the pH out of the tap has been messed with to make it super high. It's best to let tap water sit out for a couple days before measuring the pH to avoid getting a false reading.

[Angry Andy]

[sepgundamrg]

My tap water is 6.4
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http://www.aquahobby.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=55885

[DF Bobo]

seems that a lot of cities are like that. mines 8.2. any idea why the would mess with the pH? it's more difficult for bacteria to prosper at a lower pH than a high one.
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[Bob]

pH 8 isn't too bad, but it depends on lots of factors.

Lots of people say things like "I have a bad pH". In truth unless you are talking about battery acid etc, this isn't true, you may have unsuitable fish, but pH is pH, it isn't good or bad.

Most fish are now captive bred, they can cope with much larger variations of pH/hardness, what they don't like is wild swings in pH. It is important to keep pH stable rather than changing it all the time with shop bought chemicals. If you have to lower pH, try and do it with Peat, bogwood etc. If you want to breed Discus, consider an RO filter, but whatever you do, do any changes slowly.

Check with your fish supplier, chances are they have a the same pH, if not always give the fish a chance to adapt to the new conditions they find themselves moving to.

WHat makes you think your fish don't like your pH?

Bob

[Minsc]

[number6]