Question: PH: How high is too high?

[Minniechild]

Hey all!
Just done a check on my two tanks, and the smaller one's pH is at 8.4 (As far as I can read it-API Master Kit). The other one is bang on 7.5, and both tanks are <0.25 ammonia, 0 nitrite and <0.40 nitrate.
All the axies seem happy, and I intend to keep a sharp eye on the little tank, however I'm wondering with such a high pH reading if I'd be better off moving the smaller trio out to the big tank, a move I've been a bit hesitant of to this point coz there's a 10cm size range between Freddie (my smallest baby at 12.5cm) and Peta (who I'm guessing is about 22cm, but loves her log so getting measurements from her has been a bit of a pain...), and the other four fall comfortably on a scale in between.
Any thoughts would be well welcomed!

(Oh, and as to tanks, the larger one is (I THINK I've done my maths right) a 200L 4ft tank (I fill it right up to give everyone room to move, including the guppies), and the smaller is a 20L (Tiny, I know, but they were moved into it due to the heat of summer, and they haven't looked stressed or upset whilst they've been in there unless their heat sink conked out and froze over....)

 

[Jennewt]

I wouldn't move the axies, as this might be more stressful for them than keeping them where they are. Since they look healthy and happy, I don't think the pH is causing them any problem.

The next step is to figure out why the pH is high and what can you do to make sure it doesn't go any higher. What is the pH of your tap water (or whatever water you are using for your aquariums) after it sits out for a day or two? Does the tank have sand or gravel or rocks of a type that might affect the pH?

To reduce the pH, it helps to add driftwood or peat moss or sphagnum moss. The peat can be packed into a nylon stocking and put in the filter or elsewhere. Also, the pH of most aquariums tends to drift downward over time due to the overall decay of organic material that goes on naturally. This is another reason not to move the axolotls out.

 

[Minniechild]

Hmm... Base is crushed coral (i think...) and has been set up for three-four months. The water is tank water (which reminds me: as that water source has no salts and i've used aquarium salt once to compensate, should i be re-salting the replacement water for what I remove?), and I admit i didn't run the test bank before my water change three days ago now, but as far as water sources go, it's been pretty stable long-term so I haven't really felt the need to re-test.
In the actual tank, I've recently upped the feeding to two cubes of bloodworm between the three a day (awol worms and not too fond of beef heart backup) which seems to barely hit the bottom of the tank before it's gulped. Also, I recently had to remove their anubias after it outgrew the tank. I replaced it, but that plant started wilting within a few days... So currently plant-less.
With the driftwood, would a pre-used piece work, so a driftwood creation?
And thank you, Jen!

 

[Kaysie]

There's your pH problem. Crushed coral can raise your pH.

 

[Jennewt]

Yikes! Yes indeed, you should not be using crushed coral as a substrate in a freshwater setup.

Yes, if you are using salt, you would need to salt the replacement water equal to the volume of water removed (but not including any water lost to evaporation).

Pre-used driftwood is just fine.

 

[Minniechild]

I'm rather annoyed at myself for not thinking of that simply because it's been set up for months and this hasn't happened before (or maybe it has and I haven't caught it *Facepalm*), so thank you so much for pointing it out (I really should've realized, and not just trusted the package's claims that it was FINE with fresh water...)!
So will I be all right for things to remain as they are for the next five days as that's when I'll have cash not tied up? Also, would I be okay to change over the base in that case? (Any suggestions on interesting substrates that don't cost much for 2kg?) Or are there any thoughts on a different course of action?

 

[Kaysie]

I use pool filter sand. I bought 50 pounds (22kg) for like $2. I had that 50 pound bag for YEARS! I gave the stuff away to whoever wanted it! It lasted forever.

I think your tank should be fine for a few days. If you're worried, you can do small water changes every day, which should help bring down your pH.

 

[Minniechild]

Where did you get your filter sand? Just wondering coz usually I end up running all over town tring to find stuff...

 

[Kaysie]

I got it at a local store. You can probably find it at any general hardware store.

 

[shells]

You should be able to pick up some play sand from Bunnings. I got 20kg for around $10, just make sure you give it a really good rinse till it looks clear and rinse it again and again just to be on the safe side :happy:

 

[Minniechild]

Ahk, shall head over to our local bunnings this weekend !(seems definitely cheaper than the stuff I've got from the aquarium!)

 

[DavidF]

Hi Caitie

I'll add my recommendation to rinse the sand well, esp as you're putting into a tank with an axie in it. I've rinsed and rinsed and rinsed and it still sent me tank a bit cloudy with the fine dust that is present in the sand. The cloudiness does settle and you can filter it out and clean your filter but I 100% agree it is best to rinse to avoid this in the first place. River sand, play sand, filter sand - whatever. Just not brickies sand which has a portion of clay in it. Bunnings or a nursery.

A little bit of crushed coral will go well with your RCS. They like their pH a touch more than neutral. I think it is somewhere around 7.7 - 7.8.

I must admit something about your story doesn't seem to add up to me. You say the pH has all of a sudden jumped up. The coral should gradually increase pH not jump it. the coral then buffers the pH, ie holds it steady at that point against rapid changes. More coral, higher pH as I understand it.

Good luck

 

[Minniechild]

Thanks for the advice, David! It has been stable on that tank for the past few tests I've done (around 7.6-7.8, but it may be that I stirred up the base on that tank more thoroughly than usual when I did the water change on Tuesday so that the substrate which hasn't previously been exposed was (?). Then on top of that, I've removed a large plant which may have added to the pH rising (or at least that's what I can work out...). Between the test and the actual change there was a 48 hr gap, so perhaps time for the pH to rise?
I'll switch out some of the water tonight, then re-run the test tomorrow morning.
(Btw, the shrimp have been doing excellently !)

 

[Minniechild]

Rightio, thought I'd check in: the pH in the little tank is back down to 7.8-ish (I really need to set up a book light on my test card...), so glad that's coming down, but I'll be watching it like a hawk for the next few weeks.
My parents' tank, on the other hand (goldfish) has dropped down to 6.0 on the pH scale, so shall regardless move the base from mine in a last ditch effort to save our goldfish (I'm thinking I'll move Stowaway out just in case...).