Enjoy
Seedling
- Joined
- 10 May 2015
- Messages
- 12
Hi Gents,
I'm a little confused regarding a few aspects of buffering within the planted tank.
I have very soft water where. KH = 1.5 GH = 3.5.
For a CO2 injected tank, I have been lead to believe my PH will swing quite drastically.
Due to this info I am investigating adding limestone chips to my filter to add buffering capacity, to at least keep the PH swings gentler and as small as possible.
I understand how the buffer (CO3) binds to the H+ ions, making the water more basic. Therefore effectively mitigating pH crashes and radically fast pHswings? But does this mean the injected CO2 breaks these bonds with carbonic acid or is this just an increase of H+ ions leading to the pH droping again during the CO2 inject hours?
What happens to the leftover Ca and other minerals released? Sure fish and plants may uptake a minimal amount but won't the constant lowering of thepH cause the limestone to continually release these into the water column leading to a KH/GH of insane proportions? Or will an equilibrium be reached (less work - woudn't that be nice!).
I'm a little confused regarding a few aspects of buffering within the planted tank.
I have very soft water where. KH = 1.5 GH = 3.5.
For a CO2 injected tank, I have been lead to believe my PH will swing quite drastically.
Due to this info I am investigating adding limestone chips to my filter to add buffering capacity, to at least keep the PH swings gentler and as small as possible.
I understand how the buffer (CO3) binds to the H+ ions, making the water more basic. Therefore effectively mitigating pH crashes and radically fast pHswings? But does this mean the injected CO2 breaks these bonds with carbonic acid or is this just an increase of H+ ions leading to the pH droping again during the CO2 inject hours?
What happens to the leftover Ca and other minerals released? Sure fish and plants may uptake a minimal amount but won't the constant lowering of thepH cause the limestone to continually release these into the water column leading to a KH/GH of insane proportions? Or will an equilibrium be reached (less work - woudn't that be nice!).