pH question

[frank_zappa]

my tap is very alkaline. when i began my 46 gallon 8 months ago, i was thrown off by that fact and began using nothing but RO or spring water. i have since started two more tanks, using my tap.

i would like to start using tap water for my wkly wc's in my 46, but i do not want to shock them by adding water of a different pH so quickly.

could i slowly begin adding tap water into my regular wc's, to eventually get to the point where i can just use my tap? if so, how slowly should i make this change? should i at this point just continue using spring water?

[Northernguy]

You could set up a drip acclimation and do a complete water change that way!Have a bucket dripping in and a bucket filling at the bottom.
You will have to take it slow and do the change over the course of a week.
I do think it will make your life much easier.
There may be an easier way but it just a suggestion!
Good luck with that!

[Red]

I don't no what NG means, but I would do 10% the first water change of tap water, then 20, then 40 and 60 etc. I would do 50% for 2-3 times, and same with anything greater then 50.

[btate617]

I agree with Red also. unless you have very sensitive species of fish I would go at it a bit quicker too. If you use buckets maybe do 1/3 tap water in each bucket full next water change. Then do half tap, then full tap. I do see you doing much harm.

Brian

[Northernguy]

Sorry for the confusion! I read something on another site last week where the guy had a similar problem.He was able to set up a drip acclimation system where he did a complete water change with it.It was also slow enough that it did not hurt the fish.
Now if I can find the story behind it I will feel much better! lol
It was not a hallucination!




I hope!:11:

[MonkeyPox]

You could also add pH buffering agents to help absorb some of the change.

[btate617]

Sorry for the confusion! I read something on another site last week where the guy had a similar problem.He was able to set up a drip acclimation system where he did a complete water change with it.It was also slow enough that it did not hurt the fish.
Now if I can find the story behind it I will feel much better! lol
It was not a hallucination!




I hope!:11:


Its a good idea, I just think it is a bit excessive.
I don't think it has to be that slow of a process, you can achieve the same results quicker no?

[frank_zappa]

thanks for the suggestions....i will start to very slowly add in tap and increase it over a period of time.

pretty soon, no more runs to the water station! $.25/gallon is great, but what a pain!

[Northernguy]

thanks for the suggestions....i will start to very slowly add in tap and increase it over a period of time.

pretty soon, no more runs to the water station! $.25/gallon is great, but what a pain!
lol Been there! No fun!.


btate617 you know he had a good system aside from having to fill one bucket and empty another.You still have to do both anyway.Its just a slow constant change you can do over a week.
Kicking my own butt for not saving that!

[frank_zappa]

so at the rate red set out, i am looking at probably 3-4 months to acclimate them properly. i can do that. it just so happens that the fill station is on the way to a really good fish/aquatic plant store.

[Red]

3-4 months sounds about right to me. What fish are you keeping in there, and what is the PH the tank is at now, and what your tap is at?

[btate617]

lol Been there! No fun!.


btate617 you know he had a good system aside from having to fill one bucket and empty another.You still have to do both anyway.Its just a slow constant change you can do over a week.
Kicking my own butt for not saving that!

I agree it sounds like a good idea NG.
For me though it would be like watching water boil.

Brian

[frank_zappa]

What fish are you keeping in there, and what is the PH the tank is at now, and what your tap is at?
the tank is 46 g and houses 7 tiger barbs, 6 brochis, 2 nyetes, 2 serpae tetras (soon to be moved/added to a school), and a rainbow shark

so, i tested the waters from the tap and the 46 and i got what i expected, and then some results that i do not quite understand. the pH in the 46 gallon was 7.3 and the pH of the tap water was 8.6 i was not surprised by this. then, i tested the pH of the 20 gallon i am currently cycling with fish. i have been using nothing but tap, and the pH was the same as the other tank's, 7.3

both tanks have different substrates, sand in the 46 and large gravel in the 20.

i heard that the tap here tends to come out very alkaline and then drops...is that common? would it be that drastic? what would cause that?

i poured a sample of tap that i am going to test every couple hours for pH and see what happens. if that is the case, all i need to do is fill the containers for my wc's the night before and they will adjust themselves

[frank_zappa]

i should also mention that while the 20 gallon has been cycling i am doing daily 50% wc's, and it still tests at 7.3 pH and the tap is 8.6

[Algenco]

I would do a 10% wc daily, it would still take about 3 weeks to get them to tap PH

[frank_zappa]

the thing is, i just realized that my tap goes from 8.6 to 7.3 rather quickly.

i tested straight from the tap, 8.6
i tested the cycling 20 gallon i have been using just tap with, and have been making daily 50% wc's, and the pH is 7.3 (same as my 46 that i use spring with)