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Diana
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Post subject: Raising pH  Posted: Jan 29, 2006 - 08:36 PM |
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Moderator Extraordinaire
Joined: Apr 10, 2004
Posts: 28175
Location: Near San Francisco
Status: Offline
  
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Several members have posted in the last 48 hours about problems with low pH in their aquariums.
For a lot more information (if you have a couple of hours) Google such terms as:
pH
carbonate hardness
alkalinity
buffer
Reverse Osmosis
in various combinations, especially with the word aquarium included.
Here is a VERY QUICK, simplified rundown:
pH is a measure of Hydrogen (H+) ions in the water. Lots of Hydrogen=acid water, pH is under 7.0. Less Hydrogen (more OH-)=alkaline water, pH is over 7.0. Equal amounts of H+ and OH- = neutral water, pH is 7.0
Carbonates are present in most water, but not all. Reverse Osmosis removes the carbonates.
Carbonates act like a sponge, they absorb and release Hydrogen ions in a way that keeps the pH stable in an aquarium. This is buffering.
If the KH (a measure of carbonates) is less than 3 degrees of hardness or 60ppm, there is not enough carbonates to buffer the water. The pH can vary. If there is a lot of carbonates, it will absorb a lot of the H+, leaving an excess of OH-, and the pH will be alkaline.
There are other materials that will change the pH of water, and make the pH stable at different levels.
pH in itself is almost secondary to fish health, as the important part of the pH level is what all the other chemical reactions are doing at the various pH levels. One example is ammonia and ammonium. These two are present in different amounts at different pH. Low pH and the less toxic form is in greater supply. Higher pH and the more toxic form is present.
KH and GH are also important for another reason.
For more about this google:
total dissolved solids
osmosis
electrolytes
salt
Epsom salt
all in various combinations with aquarium, fresh water, and/ or fish.
For a slightly longer Article that explains things from a differnt point of view, here at Fish Geeks, have a look at an article called RO Water Basics, written by Kate Stjohn.
http://www.aquaria.info/index.php?name= ... ter+basics |
_________________
Happy fishkeeping!
Diana
24 tanks:
1 brackish
1 Lake Tanganyika
2 paludariums
1 tank not set up
Fishless/Ammonia cycle
http://www.aquaria.info/modules.php?op= ... =0&thold=0
pH thread
http://www.aquaria.info/index.php?name= ... lutions%2A
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TammieKaye
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| Post subject: RE: Raising pH Posted: Jan 29, 2006 - 08:51 PM |
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Forums Adviser
Joined: Jan 26, 2005
Posts: 16915
Location: Warren, OH
Status: Offline
 
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Good post Diana...
What is confusing to most new members, or new fishkeepers is what your test kits are "telling" you to do. Best advice is to do the research and Diana has provided alot of useful info here! |
_________________
Tammie
Beginners 4 must reads
Beginning fishkeeping
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Diana
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| Post subject: RE: Raising pH Posted: Jan 30, 2006 - 10:08 AM |
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Moderator Extraordinaire
Joined: Apr 10, 2004
Posts: 28175
Location: Near San Francisco
Status: Offline
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Test kits are produced by the companies that also sell the 'additives'. Of course they are telling you how to fix the problems by adding something else to the tank--- something you have to buy from them.
Two quotes from other people's signatures:
It is not about keeping fish, it is about keeping water.
and
It is not what you add to the water, it is about what you remove (water changes). |
_________________
Happy fishkeeping!
Diana
24 tanks:
1 brackish
1 Lake Tanganyika
2 paludariums
1 tank not set up
Fishless/Ammonia cycle
http://www.aquaria.info/modules.php?op= ... =0&thold=0
pH thread
http://www.aquaria.info/index.php?name= ... lutions%2A
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