2tanks-1 Angel fish & 1 tropical Community-very high PH

Help- we have very hard water and the PH is 7.4 right out of tap & after gasing it out is about 8.3. My 60 gallon Angelfish tank with small drift wood piece is a constant 8.0. My 75 community tank with small driftwood piece is usually 8.2.
All other parameters are perfect & both tanks are under stocked. I do a 50% water change once a week. Both tanks are highly planted and plants are doing fine. Both tanks have HOB filters that are for up to 100 gallons. There are no aerators running but the filters do a bit of surface agitation.
If I add peat I'm afraid that when I do water changes the difference in PH and softness will be stressful. All of my fish seem to be fine now but I have had a few deaths of Corys when added-the Corys in there now are fine. I don't have the time to be adjusting the PH to the water prior to W/C. What can I do if anything?
Please help-thanks

 

I would leave it alone. The pH isn't actually all that high and unless you have super sensitive wild-caught fish there's nothing to worry about!

When you added the cories that died, how did you acclimate them?

 

Unfortunately just the float the bag method-I hadn't learned about the drip method at that point-any fish added from now on will be drip-unless there is an even better way that I don't know about.

Thank you Aquaphobia-I don't feel as panicked now-I will just leave it alone.

 

Nope, drip is good, just be sure to take your time and keep adding a little water every 15 minutes or so. It's especially important if there's a big difference between your parameters and the store's.

Do you know what your GH and KH readings are? Is the pH in the 75 constant?

Glad I could help!

 

The ph on the 75 use to be 8.0 constant-now it is 8.2 -once in a while it is 8.0. I removed 2 quarter size Angels to my angel tank and donated 1 very big pleco to the pet store. Don't know if that had an impact or not. Like I said both tanks are under stocked and highly planted-I don't know if a lack of CO2 could impact it-my plants are doing well? My GH is between 150 and 300-my KH is around 180.

 

Yep, CO2 acidifies water, so that could possibly be the reason

A difference of 0.2 isn't much though so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Thanks so much-have a great day!