PH & Hard water

[JerryO]

So I am nearing the end of my cycle and am wondering about my other water parameters before I add fish.

My PH is 8.0 and has been stable there for 30 days. (API test kit)

My Hardness is High (4) on a 1(very soft)-5(very hard) test strip scale (I do not have an API hardness test in the master kit and have not purchased one yet).

I konw everyone says that the fish will adapt as long as the PH is stable but is 8 too high and should I try to bring it down? If so, I would rather avoid chemiclas since upkeep usually means continuously adding more chemicals, so what should I use. (or are chemicals for PH ok?)

I also konw fish tolerance plays a part and I am looking at
Neon tetra
betta
BN pleco or clown pleco.

 

[Crepe]

I keep otocinclus and neon tetras in 8 ph and water much harder than probably what you have. Both otos and tetras are best kept in 6.5-7 ph and I'm having no problems.

 

[mgamer20o0]

i wouldnt mess wit it. i have kept all those in my tap which is prob very close to yours.

 

[Lowryder]

I have my BN pleco and bloodfin and black neon tetras in water with a 7.8ph and GH at 347, havent had a problem. I noticed that with the addintion of CO2 that these numbers have fallen.

 

[corrado33]

A pH is fine. I've had guppies/danios/bloodfins in a pH of 8.2 to 8.4 for about 6 months. They've been fine. Again, stable is better. I wouldn't go much higher than that though.

 

[logansmomma1228]

You could use driftwood to lower the pH - Adding Rocks and Wood to Your Freshwater Aquarium - Rate My Fish Tank


My pH is like 8.2 as well, I have a dwarf puffer and 3 otos and all is fine

 

[jsoong]

Your water isn't bad at all (very much like mine) and should pose no problems with any of the fish you mentioned.

I wouldn't mess with it at all.

 

[mgamer20o0]

You could use driftwood to lower the pH - Adding Rocks and Wood to Your Freshwater Aquarium - Rate My Fish Tank


My pH is like 8.2 as well, I have a dwarf puffer and 3 otos and all is fine

driftwood really isnt going to lower the ph too much and after time that even goes away since it no longer realeases tannins.