PatStewart
Aquarium Advice Newbie
So I'm having some alkaline pH problems. I read again and again not to doctor my pH but something is wrong I feel within the tank itself. My tap test at ~7.2. The test tubes on the top
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/CardassianKeldon/photo-1.jpg
But when the water enters my tank it turns to ~8.2. (bottom test tubes) My tank have plants & a piece of driftwood (which I thought would lower the pH). I can't explain what within my barren tank is causing such a drastic shift.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/CardassianKeldon/photo1.jpg
My ammonia is ~0.0-0.1ppm for the last two weeks and nitrate & nitrate have never tested above 0ppm. I do 5 gallon water changes every week & dose once a week with Flourish.
Fish count:
4 Neon tetras
9 Emerald Cory's (sp)
2 Mystery snails
Any aquarist have any chemical explanations for this? Any natural remedies such as a substrate change (currently flourite) or maybe more driftwood? I feel like this --> trying for a month to adjust this. A pH of 8.2 is something I'd dream of if this was a saltwater tank.
Thanks in advance.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/CardassianKeldon/photo-1.jpg
But when the water enters my tank it turns to ~8.2. (bottom test tubes) My tank have plants & a piece of driftwood (which I thought would lower the pH). I can't explain what within my barren tank is causing such a drastic shift.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/CardassianKeldon/photo1.jpg
My ammonia is ~0.0-0.1ppm for the last two weeks and nitrate & nitrate have never tested above 0ppm. I do 5 gallon water changes every week & dose once a week with Flourish.
Fish count:
4 Neon tetras
9 Emerald Cory's (sp)
2 Mystery snails
Any aquarist have any chemical explanations for this? Any natural remedies such as a substrate change (currently flourite) or maybe more driftwood? I feel like this --> trying for a month to adjust this. A pH of 8.2 is something I'd dream of if this was a saltwater tank.
Thanks in advance.