re: target pH adjusters

[Cynthia Powers <cyn at metronet_com>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 09:57:37 -0400
From: Mark Schadler <Schadler at compuserve_com>
To: Aquatic Plants Digest <Aquatic-Plants-Owner at actwin_com>
Subject: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #666

By definition, a true buffer has a proportionate amount of ingredients to
fix the pH at a predetermined value. If it is designed to produce a low pH
of, say, 6.5, it will have a large proportion of ingredient, such as sodium
biphosphate, to lower the pH. However, a TRUE buffer will not just lower or
raise the pH (there are some products that do just this, and have to be
mixed to produce a true buffering system).  Even though most people have at
least some minerals in their tap water, pH buffers are engineered using DI
water, and tested with aquariums of varying pH and hardness.

There are few true buffers that do not use a proportion of phosphates. If
they do not use phosphates, they either buffer at a very high pH, they are
not true buffers, or they use an organic buffer (a very unstable type that
is easily interfered with from carbon filtration). 

Since so many things can affect the life and effectiveness of a buffer in
an aquarium, including organic acids from decaying material, dissolved CO2,
chemical adsorbtion media, etc., it is not unusual to see people very
dissatisfied with using buffers to solve their long term pH problems. Since
every aquarium, no matter how well maintained, is essentially an
artificial, incomplete, imbalanced and unnatural simulation of an
ecosystem, problems can sometimes occur that cannot be solved by using
additives.

Sincerely,
Mark A. Schadler
AQUARIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

---

• Prev by Date: Myths
• Next by Date: silica sand
• Prev by thread: Myths
• Next by thread: silica sand
• Index(es):
  • Date
  • Thread