Aquarium Chemistry Products

Question
Hi there!

I am new to keeping tropical fish, and I have done some basic research on how to keep their environment acceptable.

However, I still don't know very much about aquarium products people use to alter Ph, reduce nitrate and ammonia levels, and generally clear tanks. I have heard rumors that these products are generally not very effective, but I wanted to ask an expert to know for sure.

I have a 10 gallon Quarantine tank and a 35 gallon tank for my fish. I am generally doing fine when it comes to ammonia and nitrate levels (with some unexpected spikes), but I have problems with Ph because, where I live, the tap water has a Ph of 8.5.

I was told at the pet store that its okay to have a ph of 8.5 for my tropical fish, and they have all been doing fine in it for a few months now. However, does a high ph like that make fish like neon tetras, plecos, and danios suffer? I have been having a very difficult time trying to mess with the Ph with chemicals, and finding affordable water with a ph of 7.5 or less is very difficult for me too!

And about the ammonia and nitrate limiters, clarifiers, ect. How do they work usually? Do they take ammonia and nitrates and turn them into something benign for the fish? I am interested in using them to make my fish happy and safe between their monthly full water changes, but I don't know much about those products. Can you tell me a bit about them?

If it helps any, I will describe my setups. For my QT tank I use a 20 gal sized tetra filter and a small heater that I set to 68-70. My 35 gal tank has several plants and a 40 gal tetra filter along with a heater set to the same temp.

Thank you very much for sharing some knowledge about the tanks!

Answer
Anna,
there are lots of things to address so lets start at the start.
The fish will be ok in the ph that they are in now, it is not optimum conditions so they perhaps won;t breed.
The ph varies in an aquarium so fish have to be an adaptable creature.
All it means is the Potential Hydrogen Ion concentration at any given time.
ie; alkaline or acid. Thats simplified but essentially thats it.
If you wanted to lower and keep it lowered then add water with a lower PH value.
Over time it will replace the harder and dilute the ph.
As far as the nitrate, ammonia locks and removers they are exchange resins that absorb these substances. they do however get used up and if allowed to remain they dump in what they took out.
Most of the resins like Zeolite locks up free ammonia,it does not "change" it into better things.
If your aquarium was a wood stove, the ammonia would be the wood, the nitrite would be the flame,  and nitrates would be the ash.
All you have to be concerned of is emptying the ash can.
Same in the tank, water changes dilute the waste from the nitrogen cycle thereby improving the water conditions.
Also, raise the temp to 78 if you can, fish do much better.
PS: you may collect rainwater and check the PH of that, if its where you want to be, use it.