what moves ph?

dereks

dereks

AC Members
Mar 7, 2006
453
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What are the contributing factors to an unsteady ph level? Mine's fine but I just wanted to know for things I may do to the tank on down the road.
 
Not sure if I understand you question. Do you mean like having rocks that would drive up (or down) the pH?
 
There is way to may things that can change PH in your aquarium to list here.

Unless you have very bad water changing your water chemistry is a very bad idea.
 
yes, like I think drift wood can change it, can uneaten food? What are the contibuting factors to KH? What makes the ph go up and down?
 
Karl's right. A low kh is what makes water chemicaly unstable because it has very little buffering capacity. It can't resist up or down swings. My kh is super high (14). There's no kind of rock, stone, wood or substrate that will change the pH in my tanks. Which I happen to think is a good thing.
 
Kh is the reading for how much calcium carbonate is in the water. RO (reverse osmosis) water has a kh of zero since it doesn't have any minerals whatsoever in it.
 
Karl and ksane are correct. A low KH leads to a very unstable pH. If anything is added that could affect the pH even minimally (ie. rockwork, driftwood) the pH will swing more drastically than if there is a buffer in the water.
 
Specifically, KH is bicarbonate. Doesn't have to be calcium. Sodium bicarb will boost KH but doesn't add calcium.
 
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