Chemical Question

[zombie74]

Dose any body know what is the active ingredient in aquarium ph adjusters is?

 

[ccCapt]

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and borate.

 

[zombie74]

found it
ph up is sodium hydroxide
ph down is Sulfuric Acid

 

[ccCapt]

Wow.
Not sure where you found that info but sodium hydroxide is lye. It may raise the pH in water but it will also kill any living thing.
Same with sulfuric acid. Not exactly a safe thing to add to your water.

 

[zombie74]

Yeah neither are really good but those are the active ingredients in API products needless to say I wont be using them thinking about just using vinegar (citric acid) and baking soda

 

[ccCapt]

FYI, here is the MSDS on pH up.
http://cms.marsfishcare.com/files/msds/ph_up_122309.pdf

Section 3 - COMPOSITION / INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
sodium carbonate: 10%-19%
water: >60%​

It is baked baking soda (sodium carbonate) and water. Baking sodium bicarbonate (Arm & Hammer Baking Soda) in your oven at home drives off the extra carbon dioxide and it becomes sodium carbonate. This is something anyone can make themselves.


Here is the MSDS on pH Down
http://cms.marsfishcare.com/files/msds/ph_down_111909.pdf
Section 3 - COMPOSITION / INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
sulfuric acid: <10%

I would never use this stuff.

 

[zombie74]

Top Fin

• pH Increase: Sodium carbonate, water.

• pH Decrease: Sodium bisulfate, water.

top fin
as per petsmart website