Alkalinity

[Jbrock]

What causes high alkalinity in aquariums?

[armymp327]

hard water usually

[spiketooth]

Lime stone and crushed coral will increase it as well. What do you have in your tank

[Jbrock]

Originally Posted by spiketooth

Lime stone and crushed coral will increase it as well. What do you have in your tank

Limestone most likely, going to pull it out and test.

[spiketooth]

It will take little bit to go back down. What is your tap water reading?

[Jbrock]

Originally Posted by spiketooth

It will take little bit to go back down. What is your tap water reading?

You're on to something...

Tap water GH- 75-100
Aquarium water GH- 200-250

Tap water alkalinity- 120
Aquariums alkalinity- 200+


I've been able to lower ph in the past week with a ph reducer with all my rocks in and it has come down from 8.4 to around 7.6.

Should I just pull all those rocks out? One is them is big and I question if it is limestone.

[spiketooth]

It would make everything easier on you, i am sure you have them in there becuase ya like it. If you can find other rocks or decor that can replace it, thats what i would recomend. No more ph reduce solution.

[Jbrock]

Originally Posted by spiketooth

It would make everything easier on you, i am sure you have them in there becuase ya like it. If you can find other rocks or decor that can replace it, thats what i would recomend. No more ph reduce solution.

Thanks glad you said that because I would have kept going with the ph reducer. Trying to lower it to be closer to ph levels for Rams.

[spiketooth]

Its not goimg to lower ot alot, but a nice peice of driftwood will lower your ph