What effects PH readings

[ncsaltwater]

I need some help understanding what affects PH in the tank.

Let me explain, for the last several months I've been adding 10tsp of Kalk to my 5G top-off water jug. And over the summer I would wake up my PH reading would be around 8.1 to 8.18 and at night be 8.3 to 8.4. for the last several week in the morning the reading are now around 8.23 to 8.3. The only difference I can think of is that we turned the heat on (although the tank room still stays the same temp - AC unit keeps it that way).

These new readings in the morning are effecting how much Part A (B-Ionic) I can add. I used to add 75ml (to keep dkh up) to my 73G tank each morning and with the new readings I can only add 15ml without the PH spiking to 8.4.

[ufans]

Are you using both Kalk and B-ionic? They should be interchangable. Both can increase/stabilize Alk/dKh.

The major cause for pH flux is low Alk and/or high CO2. Kalk should help to keep Alk in balance but high CO2 levels can cause pH to fall below 8. Since your tank is always above 8 then CO2 probably isn't your problem.

The big question is what is your Alk level? Is it really low enough to be forced to dose Part A seperately from Kalk?

[boxfishpooalot]

PH FACTS:
-pH is controlled by the alkalinity (dKH) and the level of CO2 in the tank/home air.
-ph stands for the power of hydrogen.
-The ph scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being equal portions of hydrogen ions, and hydroxide ions.Anything above 7 is alkaline(hence alkaline salts) and anything below 7 is acidic.
-Co2 being breathed by people when they exhale lowers ph temporarily. It does not change alkalinty




ALKALINITY FACTS:
-alkalinity is a way of measuring the bicarbonate and carbonate available to corals for skeleton formation,alkalinity will determine your ph.
-2.5 meq/L (7 dKH) is a typical ocean value
-High alkalinity will push down the calcium faster than usual.
-All alkalinity supplements(store bought) contain either bicarbonate(baking soda), carbonate(washing soda or baked baking soda), or hydroxide. They all equilibrate in the tank with adequate CO2 from the air to form the same thing: mostly bicarbonate and some carbonate. If CO2 is not drawn in from the air fast enough, using carbonate and especially hydroxide it can boost pH (which is often an advantage).


LIME WATER FACTS:
-Saturated limewater contains 41 meq/L.
-about 2 teaspoons per gallon, but not necessarily exactly 2 teaspoons per gallon has a concentration of 808 ppm of calcium at 25 deg C
-2 tsp per gallon of limewater will approximately raise pH by 0.6 pH units, alkalinity by about 0.5 meq/L (1.4 dKH) and calcium by 10 ppm if added at about 1.25% of the tank volume
-Alkalinity almost never gets too high with limewater alone. The demand rises as the pH rises.
-Contains hydroxide wich then combines with CO2 once in the tank to form bicarbonate or carbonate.
-saturation is 2 tsp per 1 gallon.
-a rise in pH of 0.3 pH units means a halving of the CO2/H2CO3(carbon dioxide/carbonic acid) content of the water
-Limewater may help precipitate calcium phosphate,wich can be readily skimmed out from the aquarium.



<img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/salwaterfish123/alkph8.bmp" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/salwaterfish123/understandingalkalinity.bmp" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">


<img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/salwaterfish123/totalalkalinity.bmp" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">


<img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/salwaterfish123/ph_balance.gif" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">



:D good luck!

[boxfishpooalot]

O yea and check here for a video to understand what effects alkalinity. I made the video :) http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=ph269