3 Gallon Woes...

[Mr Fish]

I'm going to switch, hopefully in a week or two, to a 10 gallon tank. Until then...

I had the system at home and moved it to work. It has 2 African dwarf frogs and a Amino shrimp who all get along.

At home tap water has a PH of 7.2
At work, tap water runs OVER 8.0 and I have Ozarka water which runs below 6.5. The worktap water was tested for nitrates. It didn't have any.

I'd been using the tap water and changing about 2 cups a water a day (which I've slowed down on). The water had a smell to it and wasn't clear. It's ok now.

The PH of the tank is over 8.0, even with me using the low PH Ozarka water.

Questions: Do I need to put in some minerals back into the water for the fish? I've been using Kent Freshwater essentials and putting in a few drops. Also using Plant GRO Iron Enriched, few drops.

I have about 7 plants in the tank, it's pretty dense with plant life.

- Are the plants sucking up the CO and raising the PH? Will this high PH hurt the inhabitants for a few more weeks? If I get a CO system (with the new 10 gallong tank) will that stabalize the PH? Will I want to use a mix of work tap water (8.0+ PH) and the Ozarka water (Low PH) and suppliment with minerals?

Thanks

[Damon]

Waterchanges add a lot of co2. The problem you will find is at equilibrium, the water will contain 3-5%. The CO2 from the waterchages either gets used fby the plants and or gets outgassed by surface agitation till it reaches equilibrium again. Your ph problems aren't due to CO2 loss. There just isn't that much in there to begin with to alter your PH that much. Look for other causes like an substrate that isn't inert or rocks. Limestone and coral will cause your ph to rise.