Another Ph Question

[amf17]

Previously I made a post about my tank ph compared to my tap water ph.

Having crushed coral in my tanks makes my ph about 7.8 but my tap water ph is about 7.0

I use the coral to increase the hardness because i'm keeping mollies.

I've heard that some people add baking soda to their water to raise ph and hardness.

I know that baking soda buffers at a ph of about 8-8.2. But I don't know how hardness works.

If I add say a tsp of baking soda to 5 gallons of water, my ph of that 5 gallons would be 8-8.2 right??

But what would happen to the hardness of that 5 gallons???

Even if I added way more baking soda, the ph would remain at 8-8.2; but what happens to he hardness???

I'm thinking about trying to use baking soda the next time I do a water change but I'm unsure of how much to use.

 

[celaeno]

here you go: http/dataguru.org/misc/aquarium/calKH.asp

 

[amf17]

very helpful

thank you

 

[rdd1952]

The amount of baking soda you add will determine how high the pH is raised. It won't just arbitrarily go to 8.0 or 8.2. I prefer crushed coral as it doesn't have to be added back in with every water change.