HagenKB

pH change with Cycle or AquaPlus

Does adding Cycle or AquaPlus change the pH of aquarium water? The water added to a new tank was approximately 7.0 PH. After 6 hours with pump running and adding the above, the pH is now 8+. Is this normal?

Does adding Cycle or AquaPlus change the pH of aquarium water? The water added to a new tank was approximately 7.0 PH. After 6 hours with pump running and adding the above, the pH is now 8+. Is this normal?
Cycle and AquaPlus do not change the pH when added to the aquarium. However, some conditioners such as pH Stabilizer will create pH variations when used. Also, some tank substrates/rocks can also increase tank's pH. This can be tested with the following procedure:

Place 1 L of tap water in a bowl overnight.

If the pH is still 7.0 after this period, you can be assured something is leaching alkaline compounds into the water column or pH stabilizer, Adjust up, etc, is doing it work.

In the case water's pH bounce to 8.0 after 24 hours: there are many scenarios that may explain this specific issue. Likely, the water came from an aqueduct. The pressurization of the system will cause gas to dissolve rapidly and to a higher level compared to ordinary conditions, into the water, especially if there are atmospheric leaks into the water system. This situation is named 'super saturation'. This water super saturated with air will create some of the following occurrences:

When the tank is just set-up air bubbles will be visible in the water column (very fine bubbles) and will also adhere onto the tank surfaces (glass, rocks, decorations, substrate, etc.). Also/Or, when creating a marine mixture, dissolving salts in water to make salt water will decrease the gas solubility of water and this same phenomenon will create the same bubble effect discussed earlier. These dissolved gases can and will influence the apparent pH. They can generate results such as those observed. To speed up the gas exchange of water an air stone with a good air flow should alleviate this phenomenon in few hours.

In the case that the system is a marine one, some salt blends can also make temporary pH 'drift'. However, they usually generate alkaline pH.

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