water conditions

[OinKY]

That's some pH from a well.Grew up with deep limestone wells and never saw anything above 7.8,hardness was "liquid rock" though.

Simplest way to handle kH is filtering with peat before hand and storing water.
Only problem with R/O is that it pulls almost all the minerals,so you would have to add back trace minerals,or cut it with your well water before hand and keep make-up water stored for water changes.With the hardness you are seeing,you'd go through membranes fast (expensive).

Depending on tank size,it might be cost effective to cut with distilled drinking water if you have access to it in bulk.

[mikstick]

what has just come to my attention.i tested water out of my sink and it reads a ph of 7.4 It must be something in my tank that causes my ph to read 8.8 The sand i used was Tahian moon sand.It comes pack with water and stuff to help with cycling new tanks.i grab rocks out of my yard to add to the tank.Plus a nice size piece of malasian driftwood i bought from a aquarium store. any suggestions

[OinKY]

Pull the rocks and and dry them,then "acid test" them using vinegar.
If you get a reaction of any kind there is the problem.

Not sure of your location,but possible your rocks are loaded with limestone which will buffer your tank quite high.JMO,lose the rocks and think you'll be right where you want.

[Gerry]

rocks might be sand/limestone and thus raising your Ph