PH and RO water

[David Cheney]

Can anyone suggest the best way and ratio to bring the ph back up in my RO
water for water changes and top-offs? I've heard baking soda was good, but
am having trouble finding a soda to gallon ratio that works.

[Rocco Moretti]

David Cheney wrote:
> Can anyone suggest the best way and ratio to bring the ph back up in my RO
> water for water changes and top-offs? I've heard baking soda was good, but
> am having trouble finding a soda to gallon ratio that works.

Others here may disagree, but there should be little to no reason to
adjust the pH of the RO water. RO water should be quite pure, so it will
have little to no buffering power - as soon as you mix it with tank
water, the pH of the tank will swamp any pH imbalance of the RO water.

If in doubt, you can always try it. Take a cup of RO water and add a cup
of tank water to it. If the pH of the RO water after mixing isn't that
of the pure tank water, you probably need to check your RO unit. :)

[George Patterson]

David Cheney wrote:
> Can anyone suggest the best way and ratio to bring the ph back up in my RO
> water for water changes and top-offs? I've heard baking soda was good, but
> am having trouble finding a soda to gallon ratio that works.

If you're going to add chemicals, put up a commercial formula at your LFS.

George Patterson
Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
Because she smells like a new truck.

[Boomer]

Rocco you are correct, there is no reason

--
Boomer

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php


Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up

[CheezWiz]

Aerating the water for 24 hours will help for water changes.. The salt mix
you add will do all.

As for top-off, I add OsmoPrep Marine from Kent.
But that is not really necessary...

"David Cheney" > wrote in message
...
> Can anyone suggest the best way and ratio to bring the ph back up in my RO
> water for water changes and top-offs? I've heard baking soda was good,
> but am having trouble finding a soda to gallon ratio that works.
>

[Mark Roman]

Rocco Moretti wrote:
> David Cheney wrote:
>
>> Can anyone suggest the best way and ratio to bring the ph back up in
>> my RO water for water changes and top-offs? I've heard baking soda
>> was good, but am having trouble finding a soda to gallon ratio that
>> works.
>
>
> Others here may disagree, but there should be little to no reason to
> adjust the pH of the RO water. RO water should be quite pure, so it will
> have little to no buffering power - as soon as you mix it with tank
> water, the pH of the tank will swamp any pH imbalance of the RO water.
>
> If in doubt, you can always try it. Take a cup of RO water and add a cup
> of tank water to it. If the pH of the RO water after mixing isn't that
> of the pure tank water, you probably need to check your RO unit. :)


You are correct - RO Water has virtually no buffering power. In fact, I
would not even trust a pH measurement obtained on RO water, as accurate
pH measurements require the presence of a sufficient number of ions.

[Boomer]

You ^sometimes^ can get an accurate measurement with a pH meter in RO water. You must
remember, that RO water is a function of the input water TDS. The real issue with pH, in
pure water, when it is a useless measurement, is when it is RO/DI water



--
Boomer

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php


Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up