How is my PH rising?

So I am into the fith day in my new planted tank, my very first tank at that. I have a rather large piece of driftwood I soaked for four weeks prior to putting in the tank. The thing is leaking tannins like crazy. My PH out of the tap is 7.8. Over the past few days the PH has gone to 8.1. I have several pieces of granite rock and dirt capped with gravel from local aquarium shop, nothing else I can think of that would cause it to go high. I think I made a mistake when I set the tank up early to begin the cycle, my plants are coming in the mail soon. Total of six days from set up to putting plants in. I have no fish and I have not been running the lights, just a new HOB filter. I bought some safe start benifical bactia I have added for a few days now and I still dont have any nitrite readings and about 2.0 ammonia readings. If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them. Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Peter on August 15, 2013 at 10:18pm

Granite can raise ph sooo thts ur problem

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Permalink Reply by Sean on August 15, 2013 at 10:34pm

Wow, after doing a quick search I found out that some other people were having the same problem with granite. I have several books and seen many sites all saying granite is safe and wont effect PH. I think pure granite is safe but mine must be mixed with some other things. How did you find out that granite can rise PH, just out of curiosity? Thanks for the heads up.

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Permalink Reply by Peter on August 15, 2013 at 10:51pm

Easily. I googled " can granite raise my waters ph". Their was a topic on tpt forum were a guy had same problem. Then some other guy who replied had doe reaserch on it amd found out granite has diff chemical componds and that granite cut from the same chunck but just 2 feet away has really diff properties. The search tooke less time ten replying with how i did it :p