PH Confusion

**Pleco380** · 12-15-2010, 01:04 AM

My water parameters are good. Ammonia is 0. Nitrite is 0. Nitrate is 5. But PH confuses me. I don't know how old the test kit is. PH looks like 7.5. But when I pour it down the sink, it looks like 8. The sink is white. If the PH was too high, wouldn't the fish act strange? I don't know the sink's PH. But I think it's the same as the tank because the tank PH is always the same.

**Cliff** · 12-15-2010, 01:08 AM

When you pour the test solution down the sink, I could be reacting to residue left on the surface of the sink. I would not trust what you see after pouring the test solution out.

The key to your PH is to have it stable within a safe range.

You might want to have your LFS double check your PH for you so you know for certain.

**Pleco380** · 12-15-2010, 01:13 AM

I've tried that before. They tested the PH and all they said was it's fine. I asked what the number is and all she said was, "I forget. Sorry." She already dumped it down the sink. I need to get some more fish food so when I get some, I'll try again.

**Cliff** · 12-15-2010, 01:17 AM

If all of your fish are acting fine your PH is likely inside the safe range.

With a good maintance routine (which I know you have), your PH should be as stable as your tap water.

I'm pretty lucky were I live as we have great water quality with really stable levels. I can't even remember the last time I tested my PH

**mermaidwannabe** · 12-15-2010, 01:22 AM

Next time this gal at your LFS takes a reading of your pH, I would suggest to her that she write the number down as soon as she reads it. That way, she can't "forget". My goodness! How hard is it remember a reading you just took a couple of minutes prior? She must have been distracted that day, ya think?

Anyway, have her write it down. You can even provide the paper and pencil.

-- mermaidwannabe

**Pleco380** · 12-15-2010, 01:27 AM

Yeah it was busy that day. The water quality here is pretty good as far as I know. About 5 years ago the city built a new water treatment plant. When I was new to aquariums, an LFS employee told me they had a problem with PH levels in their tanks. The problem happened a month or two before I got my first tank. He said he had to go to the treatment plant and talk to them. But since then, water seems to be good.