Low Kh And Gh/high Ph

So my water has a pH of 7.6 straight out the tap. TDS is 40-80ppm depending on the time of year. After aging 24 with an airstone, it remains the same. The confusing thing is kh and gh are both only 2 degrees.

In my 120g, the kh and gh rise to 3 degrees, but pH never falls below 7.4. TDS hovers around 100. It doesn't seem to match up the way it's supposed to lol. I'm not concerned about it being higher, as I go by kh, gh and TDS anyway, but I'm curious why it is higher.

I feel like my manicipality adds something to raise pH without buffering kh and gh. Maybe phophates? I can't find it, anyone have and idea?

 

So my water has a pH of 7.6 straight out the tap. TDS is 40-80ppm depending on the time of year. After aging 24 with an airstone, it remains the same. The confusing thing is kh and gh are both only 2 degrees.

In my 120g, the kh and gh rise to 3 degrees, but pH never falls below 7.4. TDS hovers around 100. It doesn't seem to match up the way it's supposed to lol. I'm not concerned about it being higher, as I go by kh, gh and TDS anyway, but I'm curious why it is higher.

I feel like my manicipality adds something to raise pH without buffering kh and gh. Maybe phophates? I can't find it, anyone have and idea?

Many municipal water companies use
Soda ash (sodium carbonate) and sodium hydroxide to raise the pH of water. Unlike neutralizing filters, that use limestone and Calcium Carbonate, they do not cause a higher KH or GH in treated water.

 

^ ^ ^ That makes sense.

 

Thank you!!! Now I'll research sodium carbonate and hydroxide to find out what kind of effect they have on the aquarium water. I knew it had to be something to cut costs. Those cheapskates!

 

Thank you!!! Now I'll research sodium carbonate and hydroxide to find out what kind of effect they have on the aquarium water. I knew it had to be something to cut costs. Those cheapskates!

pH is a measurement of hydrogen ions. pH is on a scale of 1 to 14. To balance the scale, hydroxide ions also play a part. When there are equal amounts of hydrogen ions to hydroxide ions pH is neutral. Increasing amounts of hydrogen ions slide the scale more and more to the acidic side. Increasing hydroxide ions slide the scale more and more to the basic side of the scale. So when a city adds hydroxide to the water supply they can increase the pH without adding calcium, phosphate or other buffers, but in this case used sodium carbonate.

 

Thank you!!! Now I'll research sodium carbonate and hydroxide to find out what kind of effect they have on the aquarium water. I knew it had to be something to cut costs. Those cheapskates!

It's not really done to cut costs. Buffers are added to bring the pH up in your water so it doesn't corrode pipes. Acidic water will damage pipes, especially copper. It also can cause the release of lead (contained in many soldering products that were used on older domestic/municipal water pipes) if pipe joints are damaged by acidic water. Water companies in some areas use those buffers specifically to avoid adding additional minerals to municipal water so as not to increase the hardness of that water. Excessive "hardness" of water (high TDS, GH and KH) can ALSO damage pipes, faucets, drains and cause a build up of mineral deposits on plumbing fixtures. So the water treatment facilities choose the buffering agents that will provide the best end results based on the characteristics of the water they are amending after water treatment.

 

It's not really done to cut costs. Buffers are added to bring the pH up in your water so it doesn't corrode pipes. Acidic water will damage pipes, especially copper. It also can cause the release of lead (contained in many soldering products that were used on older domestic/municipal water pipes) if pipe joints are damaged by acidic water. Water companies in some areas use those buffers specifically to avoid adding additional minerals to municipal water so as not to increase the hardness of that water. Excessive "hardness" of water (high TDS, GH and KH) can ALSO damage pipes, faucets, drains and cause a build up of mineral deposits on plumbing fixtures. So the water treatment facilities choose the buffering agents that will provide the best end results based on the characteristics of the water they are amending after water treatment.

Sodium Carbonate and Sodium Hydroxide do add some sodium to municipal water which is often of importance for people on sodium intake restrictions.

 

Sodium Carbonate and Sodium Hydroxide do add some sodium to municipal water which is often of importance for people on sodium intake restrictions.

Tx and exactly, I'm curious what effect the sodium has on my aquarium.

 

Tx and exactly, I'm curious what effect the sodium has on my aquarium.

Not a significant amount. Much less than if you added aquarium salt. Low enough for safely drinking-except it increases sodium intake as I said above.