PH fluctuations

mckoomer

Member
I’ve been using tap water that I airate overnight then ph it down to 6.8 ish. This time I had to wait a day after adjusted I tested it again and the ph was 7.5. Out of the tap it’s 7.9-8.5 had ass water
 

oill

Well-Known Member
I’ve been using tap water that I airate overnight then ph it down to 6.8 ish. This time I had to wait a day after adjusted I tested it again and the ph was 7.5. Out of the tap it’s 7.9-8.5 had ass water
Airating the water will increase the ph. Why don't you just run the pump just before you feed?
 

Three Berries

Well-Known Member
The hard water carbonates are buffers and that is how they work. Until all the carbonate is used up the pH goes back up. Different than base or acid.
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
Airating the water will increase the ph. Why don't you just run the pump just before you feed?
Aerating will decrease the the pH if anything thru the formation of carbolic acid from CO2 in the air. The same reaction that's causing acidification of the worlds oceans.

A little research helps one give the correct answers.
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
The hard water carbonates are buffers and that is how they work. Until all the carbonate is used up the pH goes back up. Different than base or acid.
Mostly correct but carbonates are basic so more acid will eventually use it up and allow the lower pH to remain stable. The pH down will neutralize the free carbonate ions and show a lower pH but then more ions are formed from the unreacted carbonates and the pH again rises. Up and down until the carbonates are all used up.

Solution: Get an RO unit and stop messing with the pH.
 

Three Berries

Well-Known Member
Mostly correct but carbonates are basic so more acid will eventually use it up and allow the lower pH to remain stable. The pH down will neutralize the free carbonate ions and show a lower pH but then more ions are formed from the unreacted carbonates and the pH again rises. Up and down until the carbonates are all used up.

Solution: Get an RO unit and stop messing with the pH.
They are a buffer. And you can get buffers for any pH range you want to keep. Big difference compared to a acid or base.
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
They are a buffer. And you can get buffers for any pH range you want to keep. Big difference compared to a acid or base.
Dude, I'm a retired chemist. Buffers come in acid or base forms and are just mineral salts so are either acid or base depending on what you are trying to buffer.

I didn't mean to reply to you earlier as you always have to argue points you really know sweet fuck all about. I will strive to remember not to in the future.
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
Aerating water initially increases the PH as it dissipates the high levels of co2 in tap water.
 

Three Berries

Well-Known Member
Dude, I'm a retired chemist. Buffers come in acid or base forms and are just mineral salts so are either acid or base depending on what you are trying to buffer.

I didn't mean to reply to you earlier as you always have to argue points you really know sweet fuck all about. I will strive to remember not to in the future.
Yes I worked at a battery factory in the chem lab for a while. I'm seen a few acids and bases and buffers and them free electrons oh my!
 
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