PH too high :(

[bob saget]

Somehow, the ph in my 20 gallon got too high. I haven't tested for about 4 days, and now when I test, the water is a clear light blue. The tap water after standing is much more greenish, so I am going to just add straight tap without the buffering salt. Is that the right thing to do? Is there anything in particular that can heighten the ph so drastically, or in turn, anything I can (or should do) to lower it other than just add tap water when I do the normal water changes? I leave a slice of cucumber for the pleco during the night, I am not sure if that can affect it.

[Northernguy]

What is the ph normally?
What is it now?

[annageckos]

We need to know what your ph is and what it was. Were you adding something to it before? You shouldn't mess around with you ph unless it is really really off. A stable ph is much more important then a 'perfect' ph.

[Commodore 64]

A lot of times, especially in the winter, municipal water supplies are kept at a higher pH. Sometimes this is done year round to reduced the corrosion potential on old pipes in aging infrastructures. It will quickly go down to more reasonable levels. Mine comes out of the tap at like 10, but I've never had a problem with water changes affecting the fish. My aquarium pH is stable at ~ 5.7.

Don't mess with trying to manage pH. Just let it be stable. Whatever it is, if it's not <4 or >12 it's probably not going to hurt your fish so long as it is stable (and you acclimate new fish properly).

[bob saget]

Understood, thank you.