What is IAL (IAL water)?
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pH is the measurement used to tell us if something is an acid, neutral or alkaline/ base. Pure distilled water has a pH of 7.0 and is considered neutral, and it has no mineral content (0ppm GH/ 0 dGH).
If something breaks down in pure water the pH drops and becomes acidic (pH goes below 7.0).
If minerals are added to pure water the pH goes up and becomes basic or alkaline (pH goes above 7.0).
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If you want to reduce the pH, you can add small amounts of acidic substances like carbon dioxide (CO2), peat moss, drift wood and things like sodium biphosphate to lower the pH. These acids get neutralised by the carbonates/ bicarbonates in the water, and when the carbonates and bicarbonates have been used up, the pH drops.
If you want to raise the pH, you can add sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate/ bicarbonate, limestone, sandstone, shells, dead coral skeleton, coral rubble. You add a small amount and monitor the pH over a week. If the pH is still too low, you add a bit more and monitor for another week. When the pH settles at the desired level, you don't add any more.
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CARBONATE HARDNESS (KH)
Carbonate Hardness (KH) is the measurement of carbonates and bicarbonates in the water. These normally increase the pH. When there are acids in the water, the acids cause the pH to drop. If there are plenty of carbonates/ bicarbonates in the water, they neutralise the acids and help stop the pH from dropping.
To increase the KH you add carbonates and bicarbonates (baking soda is sodium bicarbonate).
When you add carbonates or bicarbonates the pH will go up.
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GENERAL HARDNESS (GH)
General Hardness (GH) is the measurement of minerals in the water and usually measures calcium and magnesium chlorides. The more calcium and or magnesium chloride in the water, the harder it is.
To increase the GH you add minerals like calcium chloride and magnesium chloride.
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LOWERING THE HARDNESS
If you have hard water, it contains lots of minerals and it usually contains lots of carbonates and bicarbonates. To lower the hardness, you dilute the hard water with soft water.
Reverse osmosis (r/o) water, distilled water and rain water have no minerals and are types of very soft water. Mixing some of this soft water with the hard water will reduce the GH, KH and pH of the hard water.
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If your pH is changing in the tank and going up, then something in the tank is buffering it. It could also be the tap water has an artificially low pH, which is becoming normal after it is aerated in the aquarium.
Take a sample of tap water and test the pH. Keep the remaining water sample and test it again 24 hours later. Compare the results.
If the pH goes up after 24 hours, then it has excess carbon dioxide (CO2) in the tap water and this is coming out when the water is exposed to the air. Other gasses like Oxygen and Nitrogen can also get into the water and help increase the pH.
If the pH of the tap water does not change after 24 hours, then test it a week later and start testing things in the tank. Put some gravel in a bucket of tap water and see what the pH is before you add the gravel, 24 hours later and a week later. Do this for driftwood, rocks, substrate and anything that isn't plastic or alive.
