I have well water and 8.2 pH. My mollies, platties, gourami and tiger loach seem to be doing ok. I added some aquarium salt, but I've been trying to work with the water I have and will be doing changes with. Unfortunately I can't give more experience than a few months' worth. I was worried the pH was too alkaline, but everything says if you don't shock the fish, they can adjust. But if you try to buffer and balance it, it'll bounce around every time you do water changes. I'd rather not shock them too much, so try not to fiddle with it chemically if I can help it, as everything I've read thus far says to leave it alone.