Could I Have Your Opinions On This Statement Pls, Ph fluctuation Options

[stooeygee]

There may be 2 things happening that push your pH up: the corals and sea shells, and dissolved CO2, carbonic acid in your tap water. The aeration will drive out the CO2, afterwards the pH will climb.
There are a few members here who have to deal with this kind of water. They usually let the replacement water sit in a bucket (provided it's a small tank you are dealing with), and aerate the water in the bucket. They only use it then after the pH has risen.
This way you can avoid the pH swings.
I also would remove the coral and sea shells

[stooeygee]

sorry the above was a generic post , no tank size/details were posted.

[goldrush]

Dear stoogey

your statements here are rather contradictary.Perhaps you can refer to this thread below for a better understanding of pH and pH crisis


http://www.rafflesgold.com/forums/index.ph...ic=1561&hl=acid


If there are any further questions after reading it, we can try to help you understand in due course....


regards

goldrush

[The Matrix]

stooeygee ... you've extracted from another forum ...

I don't see anything wrong with the paragraph, but one need to find out what's the purpose of doing so.

Anyway, since the requestor of the thread at that forum is trying to push the pH down to avoid a pH shock during water change, the fastest way is to reduce and not remove the coral chips. Canada water should be mild soft right ?

Slow change will help a lot.

This post has been edited by The Matrix: Mon, 07 Nov 2005 9:14 am

[bekko]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) drives the pH down - it's a weak acid. In green water, the algae uses the CO2 as a carbon source for photosynthesis during the day. This is why the pH will climb throughout the day in a greenwater tank as the CO2 is depleted.

Coral and shells will not move the pH above about 7.5. The acids in the water dissolves the coral/shell and the carbonates which are released neutralize the acid. When the acids are used up, the coraL/shells stop dissolving and stop releasing carbonates. This what any buffer does - it neutralizes acid but does not continue to release carbonates for long after the pH reaches the neutral point (pH 7).

For me, baking soda acts much too quickly and results in rapid pH fluctuations. I exchange water very slowly and continuously - just a very small trickle which amounts to about 100% per week. Thus, coral provides a very acceptable source of buffering and the pH is very steady.

-steve h