high PH yet low KH & GH?

[sepehr]

There's something wrong with my RO unit. The water parameters are all fine except the PH. It stands at 8.8 yet the KH & GH are none existent. My test kits are are fine and I did several tests with other water sources just to make sure.

The thing is that I have demanding plants and I don't want to risk using this water just because of the high PH. I have pressurized CO2 system which would bring down the PH a bit but it would take some time. So the question is that what product or household item I could use to bring down the PH? Remember that I have 0 KH & GH. My current water parameters in the tank are as follows: PH 6.8, KH 3, GH 5 and I'm planning to do a 35% wc on Monday with the water I told you about. And I also use GH booster since my water source lacks minerals but that would rasie the PH too as if the PH wasn't high enough.

 

[dundadundun]

i'm no expert on everybody else's water, but something sounds fishy here. is your r/o set up right w/correct pressures, flow rates, etc.? are your tests kits even remotely correct or out of date/bad? have you tested them with references?

 

[sepehr]

i'm no expert on everybody else's water, but something sounds fishy here. is your r/o set up right w/correct pressures, flow rates, etc.? are your tests kits even remotely correct or out of date/bad? have you tested them with references?

I think my test kits are fine coz I tested the tap and two different sources of bottled water and I've gotten the same results as always. According to your previous knowledge which mineral or chemical could cause my water to have a high PH and the KH, GH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates to be at zero? There's something fishy about the water INDEED!

 

[DoctaQ]

aerate overnight then retest ph the ph could be artificially brought up by gasses that the water company puts in which is a total fact that i just made up

 

[fishorama]

I'm with the doctaQ :cheers:

 

[KarlTh]

Not gases. Sodium hydroxide. Water companies don't like acid because it eats metal pipes.

 

[sepehr]

Not gases. Sodium hydroxide. Water companies don't like acid because it eats metal pipes.

Is it possible to eliminate SH with some kind of products?

 

[Cerianthus]

IT could be higher [NaOH] than usual but could be combination of many reasons.

Thus Before you take any action,
- contact local water supplier for complete analysis of tap water if this is city water

- Sent sample (both well and RO filtered water to be analyzed if this is independent well water.

If there is high [NaOH], adding any acid will neutralize it basic properties by producing H2O + salt (HCl + NaOH yields NaCl + H2O) but dont do any until further analytical datas are obtained since Some chemical reactions can be very dangerous unless you know what youre doing.

If memory serves, water in high [NaOH] may leaves yellowish tint on white fabric.

bte, what is pH of water before RO?

 

[KarlTh]

Is it possible to eliminate SH with some kind of products?

The high pH created is very unstable (or put it another way, since the KH is very low it's not buffered). Bit of peat filtration would probably deal with it.

 

[Cerianthus]

Dont know about unstable pH since NaOH is considered strong base but humic and tannic acids from Peat should provide neutraliizng reactions. Amt of peat really depends on [NaoH] as tannic and humic acids are not considered strong acids.

Still wondering about the pH (if possible with your test kit)/GH/KH of tap before RO?