Ph In Tank

[Xraymark]

The Ph straight from the tap say is at a certain level. Does it start to drop, go more acidic over time while in the tank?

Given that there is nothing added to the tank causing a buffering effect.

 

[mike455555]

water is in equilibrium. (pH is h+ to -log) (good old chemistry)

to put simply if left alone at the same temp pure water will not change pH's.

but as were adding ammonia into the equation (NH3) which is then turned into nitrites/ nitrates. where did the H+'s go?

but there is other variable's as well

in short i dont know. water shouldn't change pH in a tank if nothing else is added (in theory)

 

[Xraymark]

water is in equilibrium. (pH is h+ to -log) (good old chemistry)

to put simply if left alone at the same temp pure water will not change pH's.

but as were adding ammonia into the equation (NH3) which is then turned into nitrites/ nitrates. where did the H+'s go?

but there is other variable's as well

in short i dont know. water shouldn't change pH in a tank if nothing else is added (in theory)

You lost me at H+

 

[CezzaXV]

Water in your tank will change over time. Nitrate is acidic, so obviously will cause a drop in pH. Of course, this depends on how hard/soft your water is. My water is very soft with little to no buffering capacity, so the pH tends to drop quite rapidly. For harder water with a larger buffering capacity it may not drop at all with regular water changes.

It's true that if you didn't add anything to a tank the water would remain the same, but I think the idea of having a tank is that you put fish or something in it.

 

[KittyKat]

…and denitrification will raise it back up. Restiration, surface movement and other factors will also affect it. Even in soft water, with the "right" balance of fish and plants, it is possible to maintain a stable pH.

 

[Xraymark]

I'm thinking of what fish to get for my tank.

Sooo I should just use the Ph straight from the tap as a baseline and in theory it should roughly stay at that factoring in weekly water changes.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Use what your water will settle at not from the tap, fish can take a ph change very well from water changes as long as your temp match and declor

 

[KittyKat]

Yes, test tap water pH 24 hours after the water has been drawn.

Xray, your theory assumes that there is nothing pH altering in the tank, the stocking is low, the tank is well established and the surface movement is exceptionally good. With a low KH, the pH can change very quickly in a tank that is well stocked, where the surface movement is low, etc.