Hey everybody. I just got my two first goldfishies (2 fantails) and am cycling right now (but with Biospira so I thought they would be safe). My ammonia levels are 0ppm and so are my nitrite levels (not sure about nitrate, my test kit didn't come with a nitrate kit grrr :angry: but I'm going to buy one with my next paycheck), but my pH is a bit wacky. I tested my tap water pH and it is 8.8!!! I tested it twice to be sure, because I tested a 8.0 in the aquarium. Does anyone have any idea why my fish tank water and the water from my tap are different? I can't quite figure that one out...

And what can I do to lower the pH a bit for when I do water changes...8.0 is too basic for my little guys, and I don't want them to suffer! I know nobody here recommends using pH up or down, so what can I do? Help!

(Edited cause I messed up the numbers royally)

What's your tap water pH? If it's nowhere close to 8.8, something in your tank is raising it.

What sort of gravel do you have? Any ornaments, etc.? What is your KH level? If you don'g have a test for this, take a sample of your tank water to the pet store and ask them to test it for you.

8.0 is fine for goldfish, even little ones. The only problem is that your pH changes. Let some tap water sit out for 12 to 24 hours, don't add anything, and test the pH of that. This way we know if it's just lowering over time, or if something in the tank is lowering the pH. My water comes out of the tap with a pH that's about 0.8 lower than after it sits out for a few hours, so yours may be just the opposite. If that's the case, there's not much you can do except always leave water out for 12 hours before doing a water change... which is a pain even in a small aquarium like mine (28 gallons) so I can't imagine having to do that in a big one!

Disregard my post... I didn't read carefully enough!

I don't have any ornaments in the tank (just plastic plants), and the gravel is river rocks. I tested the water right out of the tap and the pH was 8.8. In the tank it's 8.0. I'll let some sit out and then test it, after 12 hours. I don't know the Kh because I don't have a test for it...I'll see about getting it tested though, either by the pet store or I'll buy a test. I do need some more stuff anyway (the more you start with this hobby, the more stuff you figure out you "need"!)

I had my water tested in petsmarts, no ammonia but he said my ph was off the charts. told me its easily a 9, possible 10!

PH will drop as it runs in a tank due to chemical reaction and amount of acid is produced..

Basically, there are two candidate the contribute to aciditythat cause PH drop, namely Nitrogen n Carbon... that forms Nitric Acid n Carbonate Acid respectively..

It is best to retain the PH at 7.3-7.5 for goldfish and they can survive in higher PH only when AMMONIA is kept 0!! Ammonia is proven toxic at PH above 8 and more dangerous if PH is higher...

Actually, I will love to have such naturally high PH water.. for you only required to add in more water to rise the PH in your tank and you dun even need to have coral or shell in tank to maintain the PH.. Coral n shell is very messy as they trap all the unwanted staff... You have no fear of PH plunge too... But jus make sure ph does not go higher than 8 and your fishes will be safe..

I am always facing this problem, where my PH will drop to 6.8 or 6.5 after 2-3 days.. Such condition cause my fish to show sign of blood streaks on their tail and fin.. and my remedy is to drop a Calcium Carbonate tablet or two into the water to stablise the PH drop....

Hope my explanation relief your fear.. just remember the optimise PH range and the danger zone...

PH 5.5 - all active bacteria stop working and this means your ammonia shoots up..
PH 7.3-7.5 ULTIMATE
PH 8.5 - TOXIC if ammonia is present...

Oh, temperature plays a part too.. If your are staying in temperate counteries, then you have to worry.. Anything below 28 degrees celcius is safe and ultimate for goldfish.. Above 32 degree Celcius, it contribute to toxic level too..

Cheers

Your pH will not drop due to biological processes provided your KH is sufficient.

Fi5hkiller, the reason your pH is dropping is because your KH is low. Adding a bit of CC to boost the pH is fine, but if you don't add enough to raise your KH to a desirable level, it's just a matter of time before it drops again.

So how do you raise the Kh?

Ok I just tested water I left out for 22 hours, and it tested at 8.0 (rather than 8.8 coming out of my tap). I retested my tap water, and yup it's 8.8. So it is lowering over time, so looks like I'll have to keep my water out before changing it.

And I feel kind of stupid about this, but my test came with a GH test, which I'm pretty sure is the same thing as a KH test after reading over it. My water tested as fairly hard (though not the hardest) at 125 ppm. So hopefully I won't have to worry about pH crashes...

Also I changed ~20 percent of my water since I have no way of knowing what the nitrate levels are without the test...I just thought I might as well remove some of the dooky and food...is that ok? I didn't want to remove too much to ruin the cycle or anything...

There are quite a few ways to do that.. baking soda, crushed coral, crushed oyster shell, commercial products, etc.

Have you tested your KH to find what the level is? You don't want to go screwing with it unless you're sure it's necessary.

How'd your pH test turn out?

Nevermind that last post.. We were posting at the same time.

It sounds like letting your water sit out is a good idea. GH is not the same as KH, but if your GH is up there, your KH probably is, too. You might want to take a sample of your water to your LFS at least once and ask them to test your KH, so you can be sure it's adequate.

I have another question sorry.... What's the difference between the KH and the GH? Oh and Happy Goldfish (and everyone else of course) thanks for answering my noob questions

KH measures the level of carbonate activity in the water. The GH measurement combines the carbonate activity with the level of minerals in the water. Water that has a high GH usually has a high KH as well, but it's always good to be sure. GH is not so important with goldfish. KH, though, is extremely important, because it is what keeps your pH stable.