cousinav

My tap water (well water) has a pH of about 6.0. The pH in the tank runs about 7.4. How can I raise the pH of the tap water for water changes? Will the Prime do it?

sirdarksol

What do you have for substrate? What do you add to the water? I can't think of any reason that the tank's water is a higher pH than the well water unless something is actively changing it (such as a rock with calcium in it).
As far as changing it before it gets in the tank, I'm not sure about that. I'm usually of the mind that playing with the pH isn't a good idea, but in your case, I can see the need.

cousinav

I have regular aquarium gravel and the only thing that I add to the water (and just started doing so the other day) is Prime.

I have been trying to cycle the tank with the fish in it (only 2 fish have survived), and yesterday I found Biospira and added it. This morning I tested and the ammonia was still very high, so I did a 50% water change to help out the new bacteria. I tested the water again a few hours later and the pH of the tank had gone down to about 6.8, whereas before the water change it was 7.4. This had never happened before and I had done a lot of 50% water changes, daily or every other day. So, I decided to test my tap water's pH and saw that it was very low.

Now, why only today did I notice such a tremendous difference from before and after water change, I don't know.

sirdarksol

It seems like a long shot, but I wonder if something has changed your well water.
The other possibility that I can think of is error in testing. With multiple tests, it's unlikely, but always should be considered as a possibility.

cousinav

Interesting point and I hadn't thought of that. It did rain all last night and most of today. I'll bet that had something to do with it.

sirdarksol

Yeah, depending on how deep your well is, and how much limestone is between the surface and the water, that could easily lower the pH in the well, since rainwater is pretty acidic.

Shawnie

When you add bio, you DO NOT change the water for at least a week..dont do any readings either because they will be all over the chart for a week or so....you need to give the bacteria time to do its job so just give it more time...bio is magical and will help everything..goodluck!

COBettaCouple

That is pretty unusual. I'd try testing the tap water after letting it sit in a container for 24 hours a few times and see how consistent the pH is.