flanque
Aquarium Advice FINatic
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2004
- Messages
- 740
Hello,
Firstly lets define a few things in my view. A "proper" pH is 8.2 and a "proper" KH is between 180-200ppm.
Now...
I had a debate today with a work colleage about the affects of KH on pH. It got me thinking because in my early days of marine aquariums I was told "raise your KH to the correct value and your pH will go up to the correct value then stop".
Curious I read more articles and discovered that that may not be true. It was my understanding that having a "proper" KH will maintain a stable pH. In other words, it is quite possible to have a pH of 8.2 for instance, but have a KH lower than what's "recommended" (note this varies as well in my experience). In this instance the pH is more capable of shifting depending on other water chemistry.
The reverse also, it is possible to have a "proper" KH but the pH may not be correct.
I tried to explain this to her, but she resisted.
So now I am reading and it seems that I may be correct, but may not be depending on what I read. So I ask you all, what is your view on the KH-pH relationship?
It's still my understanding that a proper KH will make your water's ability to resist changes in pH possible (i.e. not shift +/-). It's my understanding that also doesn't necessarily mean that by raising the KH without buffering the pH to the appropriate level, that it will just naturally shift towards 8.2.
I am of the belief from what I have read, that there is a positive relationship between raising KH and maintaining a stable pH, and that there is a "break even" point where you can actually have a "proper" KH without necessarily having a "proper" pH.
Honestly I don't mind being wrong - it's a great learning tool - but from what I have read the level of KH is about the water's ability to buffer pH changes rather than actually "setting" a proper pH.
Thoughts?
Firstly lets define a few things in my view. A "proper" pH is 8.2 and a "proper" KH is between 180-200ppm.
Now...
I had a debate today with a work colleage about the affects of KH on pH. It got me thinking because in my early days of marine aquariums I was told "raise your KH to the correct value and your pH will go up to the correct value then stop".
Curious I read more articles and discovered that that may not be true. It was my understanding that having a "proper" KH will maintain a stable pH. In other words, it is quite possible to have a pH of 8.2 for instance, but have a KH lower than what's "recommended" (note this varies as well in my experience). In this instance the pH is more capable of shifting depending on other water chemistry.
The reverse also, it is possible to have a "proper" KH but the pH may not be correct.
I tried to explain this to her, but she resisted.
So now I am reading and it seems that I may be correct, but may not be depending on what I read. So I ask you all, what is your view on the KH-pH relationship?
It's still my understanding that a proper KH will make your water's ability to resist changes in pH possible (i.e. not shift +/-). It's my understanding that also doesn't necessarily mean that by raising the KH without buffering the pH to the appropriate level, that it will just naturally shift towards 8.2.
I am of the belief from what I have read, that there is a positive relationship between raising KH and maintaining a stable pH, and that there is a "break even" point where you can actually have a "proper" KH without necessarily having a "proper" pH.
Honestly I don't mind being wrong - it's a great learning tool - but from what I have read the level of KH is about the water's ability to buffer pH changes rather than actually "setting" a proper pH.
Thoughts?