Water Conditioners drop pH?

Hello,
Every time I do a water change my pH is at 6.8 right out of the tap. After I add the water conditioner (Aqueon) my pH drops to 6.2-6.4. Since I have well water do I need water conditioner? The bottle said it detoxifies heavy metal. Is the W.C. lowering my pH? Another concern is that my alkalinity is 0. That means that all the base parts of the water are binding with the hydrogen atoms to keep the water at 6.2 to 6.4. If I get a spike of hydrogen, my pH will plummet. I have no (safety net). I researched this like crazy. If it’s not my W.C. then I’m forced to use crushed coral.
I have 4 Tetras doing great. But my two adult Guppies died with 48 hours. The Guppy baby I got is doing well. I found out the guppies need at least a 7 pH. So the fact is I need to raise my pH. Sorry for the novel.
Tom

 

Use a gh and kh (alkalinity) booster. Kh will keep the ph stable.
You don't need water conditioner for a well.
Guppies need hard water (high gh and kh) not high ph.

 

My pH out of the tap is 8.4, but it always decreased to 8.2 until I started using lots of Biohome media - which I only added to boost bacteria colonies. Now the pH stays around 8.4 to 8.6.

Second ... I don't get too hung up on pH levels unless they demonstratively prove to be a problem. I raise cory's ... which are supposed to be in around 7 pH. I started with 13 corys and now have 25. They're breeding like mad and I haven't lost a single one that couldn't be explained by other reasoning.

Messing with pH is a "high-wire" act. I researched it too and the only sure fire way I could come up with to achieve a set pH level that was properly buffered and wouldn't "crash" was RO / DI and then adding back that the minerals. That's an expensive fix. I just found that fish are adaptable but your mileage may vary.

 

If you're not putting anything into your well you do not need a water conditioner. Ive been on this property since 1984. We had a new well dug in 1996 when we built a new house. Ive never used water conditioner and Ive kept Angels, GBR's and discus with my well water no problem.

 

Theres usually going to be a negligible drop in pH, I believe it's due to the process of gassing off. Your water conditioner shouldn't be the issue.

I wouldn't mess with the pH. Theres a very good example here of why:
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/aragonite-and-ph.399620/

However if you're adamant about messing with your pH, do some in-depth research about the nature of pH and kH. The best way would probably just investing in an RO/DI unit or buying purified water, both of which will require you to re-mineralise the water. RO or purified water means that they have been completely stripped of all mineral content, and your fish require some degree of minerals in order to live. Its basically creating a blank slate to start with, and then using minerals to add back in for the desired parameters.

 

Sweeperforce , Here are some excellent videos on pH, water hardness and water quality, actually backed up by science.

Jason, from Prime Time Aquatics, is not just another hobbyist with their own YouTube channel. He has 3 university degrees in aquatic biology related fields, he is a professor and also happens to breed fish.

 

Hello,
I took the advice of everyone and I’m not going to chase my pH, just going to let it alone. However, it does limit certain tank mates I had it mind. I want to get a few guppies and some swordtails. I figure if I quarantine them and slowly introduce them to my 6.2-6.4 they should just fine, right?
Here’s what I’ve done so far tank wise. All the plant are artificial.

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• Sweeperforce
• Apr 4, 2019

Thanks,
Tom

 

Increasing KH is not the same thing as chasing pH. Carbonate hardness (KH) is necessary for many reasons. It absorbs and neutralizes acids that accumulate in a tank...ie; It is your buffering system. Which is why it helps keep pH stable. Carbonates are also used as an energy source for growth by plants and bacteria...even what we call beneficial bacteria.

I agree, don't get a certain pH in mind and then chase that pH. But I think it is unwise to accept 0 carbonate hardness.