Can Clay pots affect PH??

Georgia Peach · 02-25-2006, 11:45 AM

I am using clay pots in my 10 gal tank and when I tested the water it tests at 8.7 - there is nothing in the tank accept plastic plants and river pebbles. Its the exact same water I use in my 55 gal and it tests at 7.8 - and there are NO clay pots in the 55, just gravel, slate rock and plastic plants. Could it be the pots?

**Osiris** · 02-25-2006, 11:59 AM

I wonder if clay pots would be considered porous inturn raising ph levels slightly. I've never noticed it, but it may make a difference in such a small tank. how odd.

Georgia Peach · 02-25-2006, 12:21 PM

Ive searched the net and cannot find anything that says they will - but apparently those I have are!

RockabillyChick · 02-25-2006, 12:41 PM

ph is a measure of how basic or acidic your water is. a higher number=more basic, a lower number = more acidic. 7 is neutral. the clay pot may be releasing some kind of basic material into the water, such as calcium.

MaryPa · 02-25-2006, 12:49 PM

I have terra cotta pots in all my tanks and it hasn`t changed the pH which stays below 5.8. Do you have driftwood in the 55 gal? What`s the pH in the tap water before you put it in the tanks? Are you adding any conditioners or salt to the water?

Georgia Peach · 02-25-2006, 01:00 PM

PH of my tap water is around 7.4 - no driftwood in the 55 and now that I remember, I did add salt to the 10 gal but from what I have read, salt should not raise the ph..

**Baby_Baby** · 02-25-2006, 01:20 PM

I used to have clay pots in my 29G. THey never did a thing except make the tank look good.

MaryPa · 02-25-2006, 06:38 PM

Salt raises pH. Problem solved.

Do a test with a glass of water and some salt.

fishboy · 02-26-2006, 09:51 AM

pH, potencial of hydrogen, is all about the balence of hydronium ions and some other type of ion. If the clay you are using creates either one of these ions, it will change your pH

02-25-2006, 11:45 AM	#1
Georgia Peach Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gray, Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 1,610	Can Clay pots affect PH?? I am using clay pots in my 10 gal tank and when I tested the water it tests at 8.7 - there is nothing in the tank accept plastic plants and river pebbles. Its the exact same water I use in my 55 gal and it tests at 7.8 - and there are NO clay pots in the 55, just gravel, slate rock and plastic plants. Could it be the pots? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Cichlids have more personality than most people I know !* Last edited by Georgia Peach; 02-25-2006 at 11:50 AM.

02-25-2006, 11:59 AM	#2
Osiris Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 25 Posts: 3,714	I wonder if clay pots would be considered porous inturn raising ph levels slightly. I've never noticed it, but it may make a difference in such a small tank. how odd. __________________ Reality is for people who can't handle Science-Fiction

02-25-2006, 12:21 PM	#3
Georgia Peach Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gray, Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 1,610	Ive searched the net and cannot find anything that says they will - but apparently those I have are! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Cichlids have more personality than most people I know !*

02-25-2006, 12:41 PM	#4
RockabillyChick Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 23 Posts: 298	ph is a measure of how basic or acidic your water is. a higher number=more basic, a lower number = more acidic. 7 is neutral. the clay pot may be releasing some kind of basic material into the water, such as calcium. __________________ She does nothing to deserve it He only wants to observe it We sit back like they taught us We keep quiet like they taught us He just wants, he wants to prove it She does nothing to remove it We don't want anyone to mind us So we play the roles that they assigned us She does nothing to conceal it He touches her 'cause he wants to feel it We blame her for being there But we are all guilty http://rockabillychick.deviantart.com/

02-25-2006, 12:49 PM	#5
MaryPa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenville,Pa. Age: 58 Posts: 272	I have terra cotta pots in all my tanks and it hasn`t changed the pH which stays below 5.8. Do you have driftwood in the 55 gal? What`s the pH in the tap water before you put it in the tanks? Are you adding any conditioners or salt to the water? __________________ 125 gal. 5 Clown Loaches 4 Phantom Tetras 8 Hyphessobrycon vilmae tetras 1 SAE 1 ABN Pleco 5 Bronze Cory 9 Gold barbs 55gal 1 Angelicus 1 Clown Pleco 1 ABN Pleco 12 cories 2 Discus 55 gal Severum, Blood Parrot 55 1 Threadfin Rainbow 4 cherry Barbs CT Betta 2 Bumble Bee Catfish1 Swordtail Guppy Male 29 gal Platies 29gal Cories 29gal Endlers and RCS 10 Swordtail guppy females and fry

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02-25-2006, 01:00 PM	#6
Georgia Peach Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gray, Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 1,610	PH of my tap water is around 7.4 - no driftwood in the 55 and now that I remember, I did add salt to the 10 gal but from what I have read, salt should not raise the ph.. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Cichlids have more personality than most people I know !* Last edited by Georgia Peach; 02-25-2006 at 02:14 PM.

02-25-2006, 01:20 PM	#7
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,681	I used to have clay pots in my 29G. THey never did a thing except make the tank look good. __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

02-25-2006, 06:38 PM	#8
MaryPa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenville,Pa. Age: 58 Posts: 272	Salt raises pH. Problem solved. Do a test with a glass of water and some salt. __________________ 125 gal. 5 Clown Loaches 4 Phantom Tetras 8 Hyphessobrycon vilmae tetras 1 SAE 1 ABN Pleco 5 Bronze Cory 9 Gold barbs 55gal 1 Angelicus 1 Clown Pleco 1 ABN Pleco 12 cories 2 Discus 55 gal Severum, Blood Parrot 55 1 Threadfin Rainbow 4 cherry Barbs CT Betta 2 Bumble Bee Catfish1 Swordtail Guppy Male 29 gal Platies 29gal Cories 29gal Endlers and RCS 10 Swordtail guppy females and fry

02-26-2006, 09:51 AM	#9
fishboy Custom User Title Join Date: Feb 2005 Age: 17 Posts: 1,656	pH, potencial of hydrogen, is all about the balence of hydronium ions and some other type of ion. If the clay you are using creates either one of these ions, it will change your pH __________________ It is only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything

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