does it make the co2 dissolve more easily or make it harder to dissolve at certain levels or what?
how do ph and kh affect co2 levels???
- Thread starter K_S_W_I_S_S
- Start date
pH has three potential levels. Alkaline, Neutral(7.0) and Acidic. When you inject CO2 into the water you are injecting Carbonic Acid. This causes the pH to move toward the acidic.
kH is basically a buffer. The higher the kH the more buffer you have. The lower the kH the easier it is for acids or alkalines to change the pH. Low kH does make it easier for the CO2 to drop the pH. That is why people with a kH of 2.0 or 3.0 will add baking soda or crushed coral to their water table. To increase the buffer and help to prevent what is called a pH crash.
If you know your kH and your pH there are tables that will tell you what the CO2 is in ppm.
Len
kH is basically a buffer. The higher the kH the more buffer you have. The lower the kH the easier it is for acids or alkalines to change the pH. Low kH does make it easier for the CO2 to drop the pH. That is why people with a kH of 2.0 or 3.0 will add baking soda or crushed coral to their water table. To increase the buffer and help to prevent what is called a pH crash.
If you know your kH and your pH there are tables that will tell you what the CO2 is in ppm.
Len
Hi,
Could someone post the correct dosage for baking soda in raising KH?
Are there any potential diliterious effects in using baking soda?
I have never put baking soda in my aquarium..so I am leary...but I won't be able to get to my LFS for crushed coral for a few days..
What are the measurements for say per 10 gallons?
THANKS!
Could someone post the correct dosage for baking soda in raising KH?
Are there any potential diliterious effects in using baking soda?
I have never put baking soda in my aquarium..so I am leary...but I won't be able to get to my LFS for crushed coral for a few days..
What are the measurements for say per 10 gallons?
THANKS!
Try 1/4 teaspoon and measure your kH. Just go in very gradual increments. IMO, crushed coral is a better way to go because you don't have to keep adding it like you do with baking soda. Once you find the level you want you just leave it in your filter and it does the job for you.
Len
Len
thanks.
can someone explain for me.. how if your KH is 0 how it can be pulled down further than 0 to then pull down the pH?
It seems to me..that if the KH is 0 it is stable because it cannot go lower and thus pull down the PH?
Maybe I dont get the concept..but I thought co2 pulls down KH and then PH..? how can it go lower than 0?
Thanks
can someone explain for me.. how if your KH is 0 how it can be pulled down further than 0 to then pull down the pH?
It seems to me..that if the KH is 0 it is stable because it cannot go lower and thus pull down the PH?
Maybe I dont get the concept..but I thought co2 pulls down KH and then PH..? how can it go lower than 0?
Thanks
"KH" or "carbonate hardness" is a measure of alkalinity-- the better term-- or the system's capacity for absorbing added acids (CO2 or nitric acid, etc) without the pH dropping. The pH measures free acidifying H+ ions in the water.
An alkalinity of 0 means that any acid added to the water will depress the pH. There is no "buffering."
Good descriptions of KH and the carbonate buffer are at www.thekrib.com .
An alkalinity of 0 means that any acid added to the water will depress the pH. There is no "buffering."
Good descriptions of KH and the carbonate buffer are at www.thekrib.com .
I have a 10 gallon with onyx sand as a substrate... I have a normal 2 litter bottle dyi.. I am defusing my co2 by using the fan of my powerfilter.. Will my onyx sand shield my tank from ph crashes?
Second question.. When you add coral for example and your original ph is at 7.... it rose to 8 due to the added coral.. If you add co2 your ph will drop 1 point.. Does that mean that with the added coral and added co2 your ph will be a 7(total)? Is that how this buffering works?
Second question.. When you add coral for example and your original ph is at 7.... it rose to 8 due to the added coral.. If you add co2 your ph will drop 1 point.. Does that mean that with the added coral and added co2 your ph will be a 7(total)? Is that how this buffering works?