Alkalinity

[umbrellacorp]

Can someone please explain alkalinity and it's importance to me? I have googled it and read several articles on it as well as looking for a good test kit. I just don't quite understand it and how important it is. All my parameters are in range but I think my alk is out of whack. Thanks in advance.


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[ralph atl]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/2/chemistry">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/2/chemistry</a>


[IMG]http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/chemistry">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/chemistry</a>


[IMG]http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/chemistry">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/chemistry</a>

 

[umbrellacorp]

So is alk only important in regards to corrals? I've read several pages like that but they are a little hard to understand. What if the alk is too high?


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[ralph atl]

Very Basically, Alk is the "amount of buffer" for PH...

Very important for all creatures..

 

[jennm]

What Ralph said. Alkalinity is the ability of your water to buffer acids without dropping the pH.

Acids come from a variety of sources, including food and waste.

Jenn

 

[umbrellacorp]

K thanks got it now.


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[sir_cephalopod]

What they said, maintaining alkalinity in reef tanks is most important as a source of carbonate for corals to build their calcium carbonate skeletons and to resist changes in pH from the addition of acids like for example CO2 which subsequently turns into carbonic acid and lowers the pH. Increasing the alkalinity to very high levels can also increase the pH to very high levels, which can be dangerous to the inhabitants of your tank. A certain amount of acids and bases in your tank creates a buffer, allowing your tank to stay at relatively consistent pH values instead of swinging all over the place. Alkalinity contributes to the base side of this buffer.