High Ph

On 31 Mar 2004 14:14:16 -0800, (NewbieBill) wrote:

It appears to be bass ackwards. As far as I can tell from my narrow
range on the scale it was once again 8.8+ at 10 am and 7.8/8 at 3 pm.
Would water hardness (which I can't currently measure) make any sense
of this. I would guess our water is a little hard, but not sure.

There are two hardness measurements GH or general hardness is usually
a reading of calcium and magnesium. KH or carbonate hardness
measures the buffering agent in the water that keeps the pH from wild
swings.

Plants use sunlight and carbon dioxide to make food and release oxygen
during the day, but oxygen is used at night when the sun isn't shining
and carbon dioxide is released into the pond making carbonic acid,
which lowers the pH reading at night or early in the morning.

Before you use a pH down agent check the KH, or try baking soda first
if the pH is too high. Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, is a great
pH buffer.

http://srac.tamu.edu/464fs.pdf
http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

Regards,

Hal

Hal,
KH is less complicated and easy to fix as you state -
with baking soda. pH will level out at 8.4 with baking soda...
in fact, I've been told it is difficult to overdose the baking soda.
One thing in its use .... add about half a lb. mixed in pond
water every other day.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Hal" wrote in message
...
On 31 Mar 2004 14:14:16 -0800, (NewbieBill) wrote:

It appears to be bass ackwards. As far as I can tell from my narrow
range on the scale it was once again 8.8+ at 10 am and 7.8/8 at 3 pm.
Would water hardness (which I can't currently measure) make any sense
of this. I would guess our water is a little hard, but not sure.

There are two hardness measurements GH or general hardness is usually
a reading of calcium and magnesium. KH or carbonate hardness
measures the buffering agent in the water that keeps the pH from wild
swings.

Plants use sunlight and carbon dioxide to make food and release oxygen
during the day, but oxygen is used at night when the sun isn't shining
and carbon dioxide is released into the pond making carbonic acid,
which lowers the pH reading at night or early in the morning.

Before you use a pH down agent check the KH, or try baking soda first
if the pH is too high. Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, is a great
pH buffer.

http://srac.tamu.edu/464fs.pdf
http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

Regards,

Hal

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 04:20:13 GMT, "Nedra"
wrote:

Hal,
KH is less complicated and easy to fix as you state -
with baking soda. pH will level out at 8.4 with baking soda...
in fact, I've been told it is difficult to overdose the baking soda.
One thing in its use .... add about half a lb. mixed in pond
water every other day.

Depending on the size of the pond. Can we compromise with Suggested
dose 1/3 pound per 1000 gallons? That will raise KH by 20 ppm. or
about 1 degree. You can continue that as many days as necessary to
get the pH stable.

Regards,

Hal

Sure we can compromise, Hal... whatever works for you

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Hal" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 04:20:13 GMT, "Nedra"
wrote:

Hal,
KH is less complicated and easy to fix as you state -
with baking soda. pH will level out at 8.4 with baking soda...
in fact, I've been told it is difficult to overdose the baking soda.
One thing in its use .... add about half a lb. mixed in pond
water every other day.

Depending on the size of the pond. Can we compromise with Suggested
dose 1/3 pound per 1000 gallons? That will raise KH by 20 ppm. or
about 1 degree. You can continue that as many days as necessary to
get the pH stable.

Regards,

Hal

Sure we can compromise, Hal... whatever works for you

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Hal" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 04:20:13 GMT, "Nedra"
wrote:

Hal,
KH is less complicated and easy to fix as you state -
with baking soda. pH will level out at 8.4 with baking soda...
in fact, I've been told it is difficult to overdose the baking soda.
One thing in its use .... add about half a lb. mixed in pond
water every other day.

Depending on the size of the pond. Can we compromise with Suggested
dose 1/3 pound per 1000 gallons? That will raise KH by 20 ppm. or
about 1 degree. You can continue that as many days as necessary to
get the pH stable.

Regards,

Hal

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 04:20:13 GMT, "Nedra"
wrote:

Hal,
KH is less complicated and easy to fix as you state -
with baking soda. pH will level out at 8.4 with baking soda...
in fact, I've been told it is difficult to overdose the baking soda.
One thing in its use .... add about half a lb. mixed in pond
water every other day.

Depending on the size of the pond. Can we compromise with Suggested
dose 1/3 pound per 1000 gallons? That will raise KH by 20 ppm. or
about 1 degree. You can continue that as many days as necessary to
get the pH stable.

Regards,

Hal

Hal,
KH is less complicated and easy to fix as you state -
with baking soda. pH will level out at 8.4 with baking soda...
in fact, I've been told it is difficult to overdose the baking soda.
One thing in its use .... add about half a lb. mixed in pond
water every other day.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Hal" wrote in message
...
On 31 Mar 2004 14:14:16 -0800, (NewbieBill) wrote:

It appears to be bass ackwards. As far as I can tell from my narrow
range on the scale it was once again 8.8+ at 10 am and 7.8/8 at 3 pm.
Would water hardness (which I can't currently measure) make any sense
of this. I would guess our water is a little hard, but not sure.

There are two hardness measurements GH or general hardness is usually
a reading of calcium and magnesium. KH or carbonate hardness
measures the buffering agent in the water that keeps the pH from wild
swings.

Plants use sunlight and carbon dioxide to make food and release oxygen
during the day, but oxygen is used at night when the sun isn't shining
and carbon dioxide is released into the pond making carbonic acid,
which lowers the pH reading at night or early in the morning.

Before you use a pH down agent check the KH, or try baking soda first
if the pH is too high. Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, is a great
pH buffer.

http://srac.tamu.edu/464fs.pdf
http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

Regards,

Hal