 Re: pH vs alkilinity
Rob,
pH is a measure of the Hydrogen ion concentration (H+) in water or any solution. The more acidic (more hydrogen in) a solution, the lower the pH...The more alkaline(less hydrogen in), the higher the pH. However, pH and hard vs softwater do not necessarily go hand in hand.
Hard water contains small amounts of dissolved calcium, magnesium and sulfur (well water is hard water). Soft water is formed by the removal of these minerals (e.g. By a water purification facility or water softener).
Your pH is affected by the buffering capacity (or ability to regulate the H+ ion concentration), so if the minerals in the hard water are weak buffers, they will not significantly affect pH.
It would probably be a good idea to use as pure a water as possible so that you know what you are starting with chemically. Also remember that pH is a logarithmic scale. A pH of 7 is neutral...a pH of 8 has ten times less hydrogen ion as 7, and 9 100 times less, etc...
So be careful with those adjustments...........
Just my $0.02
P2B
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90G custom w/built-in overflow, 20G sump, Durso, 2x 150W HQI's 20K, 2X 36W PC Actinic, 2x 36W PC 10K, moonlights, AquaC EV-180 skimmer, 2xMag700, 2X Maxijet 1200, 2X 250W titanium heaters (in-sump); system awaiting completion of cabinet finishing to start!! Full reef setup planned.............stay tuned.......!!
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