PH Levels Differ from tank to tank?

Ok everybody here is my problem.. I have one tank that has a PH of 6.8 and it has always been at 6.8 now I have another tank that has a PH of 7.4+... I cant figure it out I have drift wood in both the same rocks in both substrate is the same.. the only difference is the higher PH tank has a base layer of sand. does anyone have any ideas?

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Permalink Reply by Robert Jango on November 2, 2012 at 9:37pm

What is the PH of your water source? That will tell you a lot.

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Permalink Reply by Raymond Boulanger on November 3, 2012 at 3:19pm

what kind of sand if its like plane old sand for fish tanks or play sand or pool filter sand it should be inert if its like reef sand or something or another sand like that it might alter the ph to help certain fish ......... just what i have heard,

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Permalink Reply by Robert Jango on November 4, 2012 at 12:21am

I think play sand and pool filter sand are inert. Aquarium sand could be anything. The term "sand" refers to particle size, not any particular substance.

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Permalink Reply by Keenan Straw on November 4, 2012 at 12:35am

Robert* my tap reads a 7.2, 24 hours after gasing.. Raymond* it is reg old aquarium sand from petco. I just noticed another thing that is different, I have 2 pieces of lava rock in there. Has anyone heard of lava rock affecting the PH?

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Permalink Reply by Robert Jango on November 4, 2012 at 1:04am

At 7.2 you have a variance of plus or minus 3 or 4 tenths in your tanks. That's not bad at all. My tanks' PH readings routinely bounce around in 3-4 tenths range because the rainwater I use can vary from 5.0 to 6.4 PH. - although its usually around 5.8. My fish love the water changes and it triggers my Discus to breed.

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Permalink Reply by Keenan Straw on November 4, 2012 at 11:41am

ok I guess I am just confused at why one tank is lower and one tank is higher. as long as it doesn't hurt anything, I guess I'll let it be and see what happens..

you're using rain water? for W/C's?

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Permalink Reply by Robert Jango on November 4, 2012 at 2:49pm

I breed Discus and Rams. For these fish an influx of clean, cool rainwater and live food triggers breeding. It mirrors the wild where they start breeding when the rains come. I would only recommend it for certain species though.

Scientists have found that a wild Discus habitat can range from 8.0 to 4.6 PH over a period of a year. Don't be over-concerned with ph. Just make sure the water is clean.

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Permalink Reply by LED on November 5, 2012 at 4:27pm

all in all, that pH difference doesnt matter. To answer your original question as to why its because the tank with sand has sand that is high in carbonates. The carbonates are disolving slowly and going into your water column. thats it. if you check your general hardness and carbonate hardness youll notice that the tank with sand has higher general and carbonate hardness.

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Permalink Reply by Keenan Straw on November 6, 2012 at 12:22am

is there a easy way to test my GH and CH? I have a test kit but not for hardness.

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Permalink Reply by ŦůRbö ۰ Ҏяѻ ۰ on November 5, 2012 at 8:13pm

Sand, any form will raise pH, and the air will change pH; especially if you have any pollution in the air. Co2 will lower pH.

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Permalink Reply by Keenan Straw on November 6, 2012 at 12:20am

Good to know. I will not be putting sand in any tank from now on... I'm running Co2 for my plants I hope the driftwood and Co2 bring it down over a safe period of time. I just don't want the sudden PH change to kill off anything that i might put in the tank.

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Permalink Reply by ŦůRbö ۰ Ҏяѻ ۰ on November 6, 2012 at 4:28pm

I use co2 as well. the second the co2 runs out or slows the pH will shoot back to normal. My tank with co2 on is at 6.2, with out the co2 till shoot to 7.8 (due to my sand cap) That change happens with in 45 min (that time is based on the gallons, mine is 30g) But I have Neons, angels, and others and they seem not to be bothered by it. The thing that sucks is: If you are trying to accilmate a new fish using the bucket and adding tank water method; the pH from the tank will change the second it leaves the tank. I have yet to find a salution for this, but I am working on it. Seeing that my LFS has their fish in 7.8 - 8.0 pH water and my tanks are low sixes... The only thing I can do is shut off the co2 till the water bounces back to normal pH (7.8) and acclimate the fish this way; then turn the co2 back on til the water's pH lowers slowly again.

Drift wood softens water. As you can tell from my pics I have a lot of drift wood and before Co2 I have found no diffierence in pH. That statment is based on my research and my own tests.