PH rise question

[gilpi]

My tap water's pH usually reads around 7 but all of my tanks read around 7.6.
I understand what can make pH go up in a tank and this is what puzzles me, everything in my tanks would seem to lower the pH instead of raising it. One tank is loaded with driftwood with a bare bottom, the others a combination of store bought gravel and driftwood, one is a planted tank and all tanks read exactly 7.6.
All filtration is biological, no carbon and there is no coral, rocks or any other material that would raise the pH, I do have some movement on the surface but not a lot and I don't treat the water with anything other than a de-chloraminator.
I'm not obsessing over this since my fish have been thriving for many years this way but I'm curious if anyone has experienced this kind of change towards the high side?

 

[Brookster123]

Did you let your tap sample sit for 24 hrs before testing?

 

[flitabout]

Yes do you do the 24 aeration test? If you don't then you are mostly not getting an accurate reading.

 

[gilpi]

Did you let your tap sample sit for 24 hrs before testing?

No. It goes straight to the tank.

 

[Brookster123]

Let it air out for 24 hrs than test, my tap literally tests off the chart right out of the faucet but is actually 7.6!

 

[flitabout]

No we meant the testing sample for your tap test. You are supposed to take a cup of tap water and either aerate it or stir is throughout a 24hour period. Then test it to get the true value of your tap's pH.

 

[flitabout]

Mine does the opposite and it tests 7.2 straight out of the tap and then after prepping for the test it comes out to 8.2-8.8. My tap tank tests out at 7.5 now that it's cycled. I am guess the difference in mine is all the dw and the fact that it is heavily planted and dirted.

 

[Old Scales]

Do any of you know your water's KH. (carbonate hardness) It might have something to do with rising pH. OS.

 

[gilpi]

No we meant the testing sample for your tap test. You are supposed to take a cup of tap water and either aerate it or stir is throughout a 24hour period. Then test it to get the true value of your tap's pH.

Ok, I'll try that. I had a feeling it had to do with aeration or movement once in the tank. But will try and post results. Thanks.