Causes for rising PH?

Ms.Bubbles

Ms.Bubbles

AC Members
Sep 26, 2005
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Hi everyone,

The PH of my tap water is about 7.4. After running a fish tank with 100% new water (& fish of course) for a few days, I noticed the PH had gone up to about 7.8/7.9. Now, after about a month, I see the PH is 8.2. What could be causing my PH to go up like this? I have hard water which is supposed to have good buffering capacity, & I do 25% weekly waterchanges using dechlorinator.

My 2.5 gallon tanks contain 1 betta (2 guppies in another 2.5g) & some live plants.

Anyone know about PH out there?
 
What kind of decorations do you have in the tank? What kind of substrate? There are many things that you could put in a tank that can alter PH. With more information it would be easier to narrow down the cause.

Miguel
 
Check the pH of your tap, after it has set out overnight in a shallow dish. Tap water flucuations are not uncommon.
 
I know you said you're doing weekly 25% changes....is there any evaporation during the week in which case you're topping off the tanks w/ fresh water?

as mentioned earlier, substrate may be an issue...

also, not sure how 'planted' your 2.5g tanks are, but sometimes plants can raise the pH... in reading thru the CO2 Injection sticky in the Aquatic Plants forum

djlen said:
When CO2 is not present in sufficient quantity plants grow very slowly and will tend to stay smaller. Furthermore, biogenic decalcification can occur; this is, essentially, a last ditch effort by the plants to obtain CO2 by breaking down the salts in the aquarium water. As this process occurs, the pH level can raise a couple points in a fairly short period of time. This alone is stressful enough for the fish, but the problem worsens when the lights are turned off. When photosynthesis stops at night, the plants will stop breaking down these salts and the pH will drop rapidly.
Click to expand...

I also agree w/ rbishop regarding letting water sit before checking pH...
 
Hi again,

To answer everyone's questions:
- there is no substrate in either of the tanks. Tanks are bare bottom
- the ph of my tap water is 7.4, My dechlorinator puts my ph up .2 points, but aging it overnight (or even over a week) doesn't seem to make much difference to the ph over & above this
- one of the tanks has a lot of cabomba, & the other tank only a few sprigs of cabomba. In both cases, PH is 8.2!

It's frustrating to watch this happening. I know fish require a stable ph, but I'll be darned if I can maintain it!
 
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