Question: Low pH, Bad Tap Water?

[Lugubris]

I bought a new 6 in 1 aquarium test kit today which I tested it out as soon as I got home. I found the pH in my terrestrial setup was dangerously low around 5.5, so I decided to test my tap water. It was acidic, around 6.5 pH (which I double checked with another brand of test strips), but that does not completely explain the source of my low pH. My substrate is coir and sand, no live plants or moss, and was replaced around 2 weeks ago. The salamanders look rather slimy, further indicating pH stress. Any ideas what could be causing this pH issue?

I have switched to distilled water since my tap water seems to be acidic (probably should have been using it all along since the tap water in this town is overly fluoridated). Interestingly the test kit also had strips for water hardness, which indicated that my terrarium water was at the top of the chart (300-350ppm). Other than that the strips revealed everything was safe. Nitrite was undetectable, Nitrate was under 20ppm.

The only thing I turned up in my searches is this article which indicates (2/3rds of the way down) that coir can lower pH. I have never heard anything else like this about coir, nor have I had this problem with it before. But then again, at my previous residence the water pH was around 8 so it may have cancelled any such effect out.

Any ideas about the source of the low pH or ways to combat it would be appreciated.

 

[FX1C]

I wouldn't trust any sort of test strips they are reknowned for being inaccurate.

Sorry to say but you can't beat a proper freshwater liquid master test kit

I hope you get some answers from experienced terrestrial keepers - I'm only running aquariums & cannot speak highly enough for proper testing of water conditions I'll even give axolotls away instead of selling if the people put the money towards a proper test kit. When you're keeping animals like this it's not guess work keeping water healthy - it's a fine science.



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[Jennewt]

Instead of distilled water, I'd suggest using genuine spring water (Deer Park and Arrowhead are two brands in the USA). It has to be spring water, not bottled "drinking water". Spring water has some minerals/hardness in it, which is beneficial if you are having low-pH problems. Another way to combat low pH is to put some pieces of limestone rocks into your setups. If you can't find limestone, you can buy shell-sand at pet shops (for saltwater aquariums), but be careful not to overdo it.

I'm a little unclear about how you were testing your terrestrial setup with the test strips. Did you soak some of the substrate in water, then test the water? I'm having some doubts about your test strip readings (high hardness and low pH are an unusual combination!) As Nikki mentioned, the test strips may not be working well.

 

[Dyelon]

In my experience with pH test kits, they go bad from reacting with CO2 in the air and then always test low. Some local pet stores may have more accurate test kits, but then again some places can't really be trusted. I would say the best fix is adding pieces of limetone like Jennewt said. You could try getting more oxygen into the water that should help keep the pH, if the conditions are very low on oxygen the it could cause the pH to drop.

 

[Lugubris]

Instead of distilled water, I'd suggest using genuine spring water (Deer Park and Arrowhead are two brands in the USA). It has to be spring water, not bottled "drinking water". Spring water has some minerals/hardness in it, which is beneficial if you are having low-pH problems. Another way to combat low pH is to put some pieces of limestone rocks into your setups. If you can't find limestone, you can buy shell-sand at pet shops (for saltwater aquariums), but be careful not to overdo it.

I'm a little unclear about how you were testing your terrestrial setup with the test strips. Did you soak some of the substrate in water, then test the water? I'm having some doubts about your test strip readings (high hardness and low pH are an unusual combination!) As Nikki mentioned, the test strips may not be working well.

I measured it by putting some substrate in a test tube and squeezing the water out into a dish with a plastic rod. I know liquid test kits are more accurate but the only ones I have seen require at least 5ml of water for an accurate reading, which would be exceedingly hard to get from terrestrial substrate. I also double checked the pH reading with some lab-grade test strips that have 4 different bars on them for high accuracy, so I know it cant be too far off. In addition, the water actually tastes sour.

I believe the water is hard too because there is an unbelievable amount of mineral build up in my shower heads and fish tanks. I know the water here is heavily fluoridated and terrible quality (It comes from the Sacramento river delta, yuck), so I will definitely switch to another water source. The distilled water was a temporary fix since I had it lying around, but I also hardened it myself with calcium powder and an extremely small pinch of sodium bicarbonate. I will probably buy bulk Arrowhead water next time I am at the store since it is cheap and available.

That's a good idea about the limestone, I believe I have some somewhere. Thanks.