Water Change Quandary :: PH Levels

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mikeyw64
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Ok so as I observed a week or two back my tap water had dropped from its more usual 7.2 to 6.6 (WHich I found out after trying to figure out why the PH in the tank had dropped after a 50% water change following the loss of 3 residents).

My quandry is that I was just getting ready to do a 50% water change before going away for 2 weeks and I thought I would check the current PH of the tap water first.

8.4!

The tanks currently at 6.8 so my quandary is , do I go ahead with the 50% water change with the tap water as is or is there something can be done to mitigate any potential impact on the residents?

Given the Nitrate level has actually dropped since post last water change & liquid fertiliser add I'm almost tempted to forego the water change (or at least just do a small top up) I was going to do (last one was 25% 12 days ago) and only let mumsie do one small feed whilst we're away

Bear in mind I leave the house tomorrow middayish and won't be back until late on the 14th Dec to carry out any checks.



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plankton
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Just do a 10% change. That shouldn't cause a problem, but will add fresh for the few weeks.
Do another 10% when you get back.
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mikeyw64
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Once I get back I may well revert to my small daily changes given that the supply seems to fluctuate.
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mikeyw64
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interestingly as I was running the bucket of water off I noticed it also smelt more chloriney than is usual so have used a slightly higer than normal dosing of prime as a precaution.
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plankton
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Obviously they're swapping the source......
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mikeyw64
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which is mildly annoying to say the least. How many people get caught out by this scenario I wonder?
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mikeyw64
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Incidentally that 10% water change has taken it from 6.8 to between 7.0 & 7.2 (left it just over an hour before retesting)
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black ghost
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Where does your water come from?

Are you letting the tapwater stand for a few hours before testing it?
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mikeyw64
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Out of the tap and no I haven't been letting it stand.

According to United Utilities it comes from one of 3 sources.Local upland reservoirs, Lake Vrynwy or the River Dee
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