Re: pH hell

["ALEX PASTOR" <alexp@idirect.com>]

My tap water is very hard and has a pH of 7.6.  This is why I use a
deionizer.  I add Kent R/O Right to correspond to GH 3.  Then I add the
acid/alkaline buffer which leaves the replacement water at KH 3 and pH 6.4.
I have wanted to change the water that was in the tank.  The original water
in the tank used to be 2/3 deionized and 1/3 tap.  This gave me GH 5 and KH
5 when I used Mardel Waters of the World South American to lower the pH to
6.8.  Unfortunately, this product contains phosphate, as does Tetra's Black
Water Extract.  My phosphate levels were absolutely sky high, and when I
increased the lighting on the aquarium, things went POOF!  I had green Lady
Godivas growing all over the tops of my plants.  (Supposedly the Mardel
product softens the water, although I don't know how, and at this point I
don't care, unless of course this also is part of the problem.)

So, I  began to make water changes using an alternative buffering system.
As you can tell, it has been giving me a very difficult time.  The algae is
making an exit, but I'm afraid my fish will follow if I can't get a handle
on this.  Obviously, the phosphate was contributing significantly to the
stability of the pH up until now.

I hope this helps



>Alec, you are going to have to learn to stop throwing chemicals in your
>tanks.   Let's start at the beginning:
>
>What is your tap water like?
>
>What is in your tanks besides fish, plants and water?  What kind of
>substrate?  Any shells?
>
>What kind of fish/plants are you trying to raise?
>
>And PLEASE don't add any more chemicals without our OK.  OK?
>
>
>
>At 09:37 PM 2/12/99 -0800, you wrote:
>>O.K. Now that we are on water quality topics, I wonder if someone can tell
>>me what is really going on here.  I discovered, after having experienced a
>>massive hair algae bloom, that the buffer I was adding to my water
contained
>>phosphate.  So, over the past two weeks I have been adding phosphate- and
>>nitrate-free acid/base buffer to my de-ionized water.  (Yes, I tested it.
>>This situation is creating anal retentiveness!)
>>I was hoping that with 30% weekly water changes the phosphate would
>>gradually decrease, and hence the algae growth, and I would be able to
>>maintain the pH at the usual 6.8.  But nooooooo.
>>
>>I leave the change water in the tub overnight.  It keeps a stable 6.6.
Then
>>I add it to the tank which is at 6.8.  I did not concern myself unduly, or
>>so I believed.  Well, holy smokes the pH went up to 8.5!!!!!  Since that
>>heart attack, I have been gradually adding acid buffer to bring it down
and
>>stabilize it.  But it has been a struggle.
>>
>>So, what gives?  Is the phosphate binding up the acid and permitting the
>>alkaline buffer to have full reign or what?
>>
>>Sleepless in Toronto
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>--
>Dave Gomberg, San Francisco            mailto:gomberg@wcf.com
>http://www.wcf.com/co2iron
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