odd water, need help!

ValRasbora

ValRasbora

Superstar Fish
#1
May 2, 2009
1,202
0
0
Atlantic Canada
#1
ok so my 10g was cycling and when I went to my lfs to get him to test my water it was pH 8.6 (holy crap!) and it was really soft... which makes like no sense because usually it's hard water & high pH...
OR
soft water and low pH...
so NOTHING can live in there for any amount of time without dying.

could it be possibly the terra-cotta pot I bought from walmart??
here's everything in the tank:
aquatech 10-15 filter
heater (not sure what brand)
gravel
1 terra-cotta pot, fairly small.
2 aquarium decorations.
live lucky bamboo, 7 stalks.

anyways what could it be? I'm stumped but suspicious of the terra-cotta pot.

oh btw the tap water (well water) I'm using is a pH 7.5 and hard water, so it must be something in the tank!

HHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPP this tank has gone so well so far!!
I want it to turn out good :(
please help, any advise is helpful!
 

Doomhed

Doomhed

Large Fish
#2
Feb 11, 2003
687
0
0
42
Rhode Island
Visit site
#2
I have a terra cotta pot from walmart that I have owned and used in fishtanks for years.

It is not one of those painted pots is it? did you soak it overnight like you would driftwood and dip it in boiling water? that's what I did. the untreated/unpainted ones are safe, otherwise, no guarantees.
 

exhumed07

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
#3
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#3
I'm stumped as well. my ph is at 8.7 and is hard water since it is well water and I bypass my waster softener for the tanks. but from what u have listed there I don't understand it myself.
 

Newman

Newman

Elite Fish
#8
Sep 22, 2009
4,668
0
0
Northern NJ
#8
Do a huge water change and take out the pot for a week or two. after this time test the water and see it it remains at the same pH as your tap water (or w./e you're using)
 

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