PH reading?

by **Nataliey** on Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:12 pm

Im wondering what the 'normal' PH level should be in my female betta tank, as iv just tested my water with my 'chemistry set!' and my readings for PH was 7.6 is that normal?
So out of curiousity i tested my water from my tap which tested at 6.4.
All my other readings for ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte resulted in 0 are my readings normal or not? I dont really understand PH readings. Embarassed

by **kizno1** on Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:27 pm

Ph varies on your tap water so theres no real normal reading. Bettas prefer it slightly acidis (7 or below) But because they have been tank bred for so long them will adapt to most PH aslong as they arent to extreme. The Amminia and nitrites should always be 0 anything else can harm the fish. The nirtates arent to important aslong as there not over 40 or you are keeping really sensitive fish like german blue rams or discus. Its a bit weird your nitates are 0 though theres normally some in tap water so the test might have been slightly of or you are very lucky and have perfect water for sensitive fish and marine.

by **Nataliey** on Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:31 pm

Thank you Kiz for explaining

by **KalandraJane** on Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:15 pm

If everything is at zero your tank is perfectly in balance - do you have moss balls or live plants? If so they'll be sucking up all your nitrates.

My tapwater comes out at 6.4 and ends up around 7.6 too, apparently this just happens naturally as it ages. If you have wood or coconut caves in there they'll slowly make the water alkaline.

by **kizno1** on Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:27 pm

KalandraJane wrote:If everything is at zero your tank is perfectly in balance - do you have moss balls or live plants? If so they'll be sucking up all your nitrates.

My tapwater comes out at 6.4 and ends up around 7.6 too, apparently this just happens naturally as it ages. If you have wood or coconut caves in there they'll slowly make the water alkaline.

Yeah good point i wasnt thinking about mosses. Do you know what it comes out your tap at?. Im not nit picking but wood makes water more acidic thats why i use loads because my tap PH is about 7.5 but i get it down to about 6.5 but just have to do small water changes often so the PH doesn't swing.

What type of test kit did you use? The strip ones aren't that accurate the liquid ones are best.

by **Time-Out** on Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:59 pm

Also if you don't have many fish, nitrates can be negligeable on a reading.

ps: 6.4 is great for bettas!

by **Nataliey** on Wed Sep 29, 2010 10:35 am

KalandraJane wrote:If everything is at zero your tank is perfectly in balance - do you have moss balls or live plants? If so they'll be sucking up all your nitrates.

My tapwater comes out at 6.4 and ends up around 7.6 too, apparently this just happens naturally as it ages. If you have wood or coconut caves in there they'll slowly make the water alkaline.

I have moss balls, moss on my coconut cave and live plants on wood so a bit of everything.

Kiz my tap water reads at 6.4

Thanks Time out Smile

by **silverrabbit** on Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:41 pm

I thought wood makes the pH more acidic as it releases tannic acid? scratch

it seems to in mine

by **kizno1** on Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:48 pm

silverrabbit wrote:I thought wood makes the pH more acidic as it releases tannic acid? it seems to in mine

It does.
Wood, leaves and coconut caves will make the water more acidic and some stones, coral sand and shells will make the water more alkaline.

by **silverrabbit** on Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:56 pm

Thanks! That really confused me for a moment then lol!

admittedly it doesn't take much lmao

PH reading?

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