Selzer water to lower PH and dKH?
- Thread starter Gilby
- Start date
If in a rare event pH is too high, it is a good way to lower pH. So is vinegar.
Despite assertions to the contrary by some noted reef guru's of the past, soda water (carbon dioxide) has no effect whatsoever on tank alkalinity.
I discuss the pH lowering effect here, but before you use it, be warned that unless you dose limewater or other high pH additives, 99+% of high pH readings (say, above 8.6) are simply errors of measurement, not true high pH.
What is your tank pH?
High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm
from it:
A. Direct addition of carbon dioxide. Bottled soda water (seltzer) can be used to instantly reduce aquarium pH. Be sure to select unflavored soda water, and check the ingredients to be sure it doesn't contain anything that should be avoided (phosphate, etc). Many manufacturers list water and carbon dioxide as the only ingredients.
I recommend adding 6 mL of soda water per gallon of tank water to reduce pH by about 0.3 units. Add it to a high flow area away from organisms (such as in a sump). The local pH where it first is added will be very low. Going about this procedure slowly is better than proceeding too fast. If you do not have a sump, add it especially slowly. Some soda water may have more, or less, carbon dioxide in it, and the lower the aquarium's alkalinity, the larger will be the pH drop. Also, the higher the pH, the smaller will be the pH drop, because the buffering of seawater declines steadily as the pH drops from about 9 to 7.5.
Despite assertions to the contrary by some noted reef guru's of the past, soda water (carbon dioxide) has no effect whatsoever on tank alkalinity.
I discuss the pH lowering effect here, but before you use it, be warned that unless you dose limewater or other high pH additives, 99+% of high pH readings (say, above 8.6) are simply errors of measurement, not true high pH.
What is your tank pH?
High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm
from it:
A. Direct addition of carbon dioxide. Bottled soda water (seltzer) can be used to instantly reduce aquarium pH. Be sure to select unflavored soda water, and check the ingredients to be sure it doesn't contain anything that should be avoided (phosphate, etc). Many manufacturers list water and carbon dioxide as the only ingredients.
I recommend adding 6 mL of soda water per gallon of tank water to reduce pH by about 0.3 units. Add it to a high flow area away from organisms (such as in a sump). The local pH where it first is added will be very low. Going about this procedure slowly is better than proceeding too fast. If you do not have a sump, add it especially slowly. Some soda water may have more, or less, carbon dioxide in it, and the lower the aquarium's alkalinity, the larger will be the pH drop. Also, the higher the pH, the smaller will be the pH drop, because the buffering of seawater declines steadily as the pH drops from about 9 to 7.5.
Gilby
Premium Member
I just went and bought some new tests and even went to three local LFS's to get my water tested and my PH and Alk are fine. 8.2 and 9dkh. The tests i was using were from hagen/ nutrifin and I tested the water like 5 or 6 times to make sure i was doing it right. I guess those tests are just horrible because they were WAY OFF! hagen/nutrifin had my water at PH 8.8 an dkh at 18. I appreciate the advice it will help just in case this ever really happens.
:thumbsup:
Happy Reefing.
Happy Reefing.
