PH buffer

[Jaws]

My Ph level was at 7.8 so I added 1 tsp of buffer last night and it went up to 7.9. This morning it went down to 7.6. Will the Ph fluctuate like that from day to night or is this a bigger problem?

[Jaws]

Bump

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by Jaws

My Ph level was at 7.8 so I added 1 tsp of buffer last night and it went up to 7.9. This morning it went down to 7.6. Will the Ph fluctuate like that from day to night or is this a bigger problem?

pH will generally be higher during the day when the lights are on, being highest just before lights out. At night, pH drops and will be lowest just before lights on.

Alkalinity affects pH as well. The higher the pH swings, generally, you are looking at low alk.

Conistently low pH indicates high CO2 levels in the tank room. Last winter we had pH readings similar to the low ones you say you are having. It was the result of living in a very airtight environment with little outside air replenishing the normal O2 and CO2 levels.

To combat the problem in our apartment condo, we opened the two bedroom windows each a half inch and put a fan in the hallway between the two rooms pointing toward the tank room. pH rose to over 8.1, plus we could feel the difference in the air ourselves in that it was less stuffy than without the windows open and the fan moving the fresh air into the room.

[Jaws]

Cool, I'll try that. I'm also installing fans into the canopy today so hopefully that will help too. I just don't understand how the Ph level could drop after adding PH buffer.

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by Jaws

I just don't understand how the Ph level could drop after adding PH buffer.

My guess is that your pH would have dropped even lower had you not added buffer. pH normally drops overnight. The larger the pH drop, the lower the alkalinity would be in your tank.

Here's a page that explains alkalinity in (painful) detail:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm