WHAT IS pH
The pH value of water is a measurement of the hydrogen ion concentration. The results of a pH test can determine if the sample is acid (measurements between 0 and 6.99), alkaline or basic (measurements between 7.01 and 14.0) or neutral with a pH of 7.00.

pH ADJUSTMENTS
One of the most important aspects of dealing with pH is to note that adjustments to it are not relative. For example, to raise the pH of 20L of water from 5.0 to 6.0 may take only 100mg of a pH raising solution, but to raise the pH from 6.0 to 7.0 may take 500mg of the same pH raising solution. This factor catches many people off guard. They consider it took one spoon to adjust the pH halfway to where they wanted it, but when another spoon is added the pH does not go near their desired end point. Of course, going the other way and lowering the pH with acid the reverse would apply. An example is: o.5ml of an acid is used to lower the pH of an aquarium from 7.0 to 6.5 but another 0.5ml of the same acid takes the pH of the aquarium to 5.0.

Technically, logarithms may be used to define the hydrogen ion concentration and this may be expressed in grams per litre.

The quantity of a substance used to adjust or influence the pH value of a sample of water is dependent on the pH of the adjusting substance and the present pH of the water to be adjusted.

CHANGING pH
Many factors cause pH to constantly change in an aquarium...

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This topic goes on to cover -

• pH in the natural state
• Carbon Dioxide influence
• Ways of setting and dealing with pH
• What makes a good pH test kit?

Published by AQUASONIC