46 gallon bow front ph is out the roof

[butterfly_koi]

How did you cycle the tank?

 

[aqua_chem]

I know this might b a dumb ? But where does the alkalinity come from?

Alkalinity usually comes from groundwater absorbing carbonates from limestone and other rocks in the ground.

 

[MossyOakMama]

Fish less cycle

 

[librarygirl]

Ok sorry, you have a 10 gal tank with tetras, guppies a sucker and shrimp? And how long has that been set up and what are the readings in that tank, including PH? If the PH is the same in both tanks then that's just your tap water's PH. 8.5 is on the higher end but not abnormal, most fish will adapt unless youre keeping very sensitive fish like Discus. Is this an upgrade to your 10 gal? If so, jut move the 10 ga's filter to the larger tank and run it alongside the new filter for a month or so and you can move all the fish right over to the new tank (which would be better for them, that's too many fish in a 10 gal) or you can move the media from the 10 gal' filter into the new filter and then fill the rest with new media.

To fishless cycle a tank you have to add an ammonia source; letting it run isn't cycling it.

Guide to Starting a Freshwater Aquarium - Aquarium Advice