extremely high ph! Help!

[TechNaturalist]

My 55 gallon has recently gotten a very high ph level of over 8.2 and has been staying that way despite the chemicals I have been adding to eliminate this imbalance. I do have a lot of brown algae culture in there, but that is the only thing I can think of. any ideas?

[travie]

Chemicals are definitely not the way to go to change pH. How often do you do water changes? And what is the pH of the water you use for water changes? I would suggest using peat, a big piece of driftwood that has a bunch of tannic acid in it that will leach out into the water making it more acidic, or possibly using a combination of Reverse Osmosis water and your source water to obtain the desired pH.

[Shadowisper]

I agree with the previous post. Chemicals are a quick fix to get you out of trouble but have no long term effects (and are more dangerous than good). Peat moss and driftwood are the natural ways to bring down the Ph and will keep it steady!! which is the important thing. Nothing like a ph rollercoaster to kill all your fish.

[bushwhacker]

first stop with the chems. second figure out why its gotten high. 8.2 isnt going to kill your fish it has to have risen slowly unless your water co has done something drastic.. are the fish dieing? acting desparate? we need a little more info

[Algenco]

what is you water change schedule?
Any rock, shells, coral, etc in the tank?
What is the PH of your tapwater?

[Auratus001]

What species do you have in your tank? 8.2 may not be that bad, depending on what you have in your tank...

If your tap water has lower pH, then you definitely have some alkaline substances in your tank.

[smaug]

Ok then.First off.Ya gotta answer some of these questions that the other posters have aked.Next,chemicals are by no means as bad as they are made out to be.I have been chemically adjusting my ph to a lower ph for years now.high 8s are pretty high and a lowering technique is certainly in order for you.

[Mith]

Have you always been shaking up bottle number 2 everytime? If you haven't.... and then all the sudden you DO... you WILL get a HIGH reading.... don't ask me how I know.... LOL

[smaug]

Have you always been shaking up bottle number 2 everytime? If you haven't.... and then all the sudden you DO... you WILL get a HIGH reading.... don't ask me how I know.... LOL
I do believe you are thinking about the nitrate test,ph test is 1 bottle.

[Lady Hobbs]

You say your pH has recently risen to this level. You need to look what has been added to your tank and I agree to check pH from tap water. If something is making it rise in the tank, then you need to work on the problem and not just dump chemicals to it. pH is not supposed to be changed more than .4 in any 24 hour period which is why the chemicals can be so dangerous unless you are very experienced in using them.

Reducing pH naturally is always the best way to do this.