PH not lowering with Neutral Regulator

My PH from tap is 8. (Could be anywhere from 7.8-8.2) I use Seachem Neutral Regulator to keep ph at 7, or so I thought. I’ve been testing the water every day now for over 3 weeks. As soon as I started using it I noticed the tank water immediately stabilize at 7 (the past 2 days it has been up to 7.2) Admittedly I never tested the treated water before putting it into the tank. I’ve only been testing the tank water lately. I’ve noticed after I do a water change the guppies lose a bit of color temporarily & are more active swimming around the tank erratically. That led me to test the water before putting it in the tank. After putting the Neutral Regulator in the PH is at 7.4. Could this be enough of a difference to cause distress? All other parameters are good. Zero ammonia & nitrite. I do water changes at 20ppm or sooner. I use Prime with water changes & because I am currently medicating have also been adding either a capful Seachem Stability or Tetra SafeStart about 6-12hours after dozing meds. (Today is last day of meds.) I should mention this has been an ongoing issue for a month. I tried crushed coral but it kept the ph too high. My water is already at 10 drops of GH & 4 drops of KH (I don’t remember the conversion.) I have used baking soda in the past but learned the hard way the effects of fluctuating PH. I thought the issue was solved with the Neutral Regulator & the guppies seem to thrive at 7-7.2 ph. (That’s what the stores I bought them from kept them at too.) Is there something I’m missing? How do I keep the PH stable? Or is it ok that once water is in the tank it stays at 7-7.2?

 

So without the regulator your ph is 7-7.2? Honestly, I wouldn’t even worry about your ph. Trying to regulate with chemicals is usually a losing battle and causes far more stress than a constant (wether it be high or low) ph does.

 

So without the regulator your ph is 7-7.2? Honestly, I wouldn’t even worry about your ph. Trying to regulate with chemicals is usually a losing battle and causes far more stress than a constant (wether it be high or low) ph does.

Without the Regulator my ph is 7.8-8.

 

I would just go with my tap water and not worry about it. Fish adapt. Yours is not crazy bad. Mine is 8.2. I do a 50% water change every week vacuuming the gravel. I check ammonia every once in awhile. As long as you are doing good size water changes every week You more than likely will be fine.

 

Without the Regulator my ph is 7.8-8.

With the Neutral Regulator added it’s 7-7.2 but only after water has been added to the tank. The Regulator brings the ph of the tap water down from around 8 to 7.4 before I put it in the tank & let it sit for several hours or more. Then when I add it to tank it drops to 7 or 7.2.

 

A ph of 8 really isn’t too high. I wouldn’t worry about it. Do you have any driftwood in your tank?

 

What are all of the fish you have?

 

A ph of 8 really isn’t too high. I wouldn’t worry about it. Do you have any driftwood in your tank?

I don’t. Do you think that would be a good option? How does driftwood work to lower ph? Will it leach KH?

What are all of the fish you have?

I have 4 dumbo ear guppies in a 10 gallon tank & 2 fancy guppies left in a 20 gallon tank.

 

I don’t. Do you think that would be a good option? How does driftwood work to lower ph? Will it leach KH?

I believe it is known that driftwood lowers ph but I think it has to be a good sized chunk. I dont think so.

I think 8.0 would be ok for guppies. Most people usually try to hit certain ph levels when they are trying to breed fish. Otherwise just go with the tap. Way easier and fish do adapt if you do it slowly.

 

I believe it is known that driftwood lowers ph but I think it has to be a good sized chunk. I dont think so.

I think 8.0 would be ok for guppies. Most people usually try to hit certain ph levels when they are trying to breed fish. Otherwise just go with the tap. Way easier and fish do adapt if you do it slowly.

When you say do it slowly what would that look like? Doing like 10% water changes without the Regulator for 10 days?

 

When you say do it slowly what would that look like? Doing like 10% water changes without the Regulator for 10 days?

Yeah just like temp do it slowly as to not shock them.

 

There’s some interesting info here:
Driftwood effects on pH | Driftwood 126452

 

Yeah just like temp do it slowly as to not shock them.

Ok I think I’ll try that.

 

Ok I think I’ll try that.

Will be way easier in the long run. Not having to mess with water every water change.