thank you so much for the info guys! i will def be passing this onto others in my area as well!!
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thank you so much for the info guys! i will def be passing this onto others in my area as well!!
Al, I thought that your answer was a very good one but wanted to give you a bit of support and a plus provide some added information. Since we discus fan(atic)s deal a lot with water, pH, and TDS, the more water chemistry one knows, the better. By the way, you do a great job of providing solid advice as well as sharing you knowledge, plus you do it with patience and gentleness, and that is important, especially with newbies. Thank you!
It always bothers me when municipalities make dramatic changes to the characteristics of their water. There are many uses for municipal water and the demands vary depending on whether the end user is a residence or an industry. Those who love tropical fish know the importance of providing a healthy and stable water environment, but industries also have similar requirements. If this municipality is really going to raise the pH up to 9.6, there could be unforeseen consequences for industries that depend on the water supply for cooling, steam generation, or as make-up water for a particular formulation. pH values in that high range can speed up undesirable chemical reactions that could result in equipment failures or end products that don't meet specifications.
AquaticSuppliers.com Freeze Dried BlackWorms and other foods your Discus will Love!!!
>>>>>I am a science guy.. show me the science minus the BS
Al Sabetta
Simplydiscus LLC Owner
Aquaticsuppliers.com
I take Pics.. click here for my Flickr images
Flint, Michigan has been in the news lately because they switched the city's water source to the Flint River, which apparently has a lower pH and is causing elevated levels of lead. Everything I read on this subject indicates that targeting a pH of 8.0 by the addition of Sodium Hydroxide is adequate to prevent metals corrosion.
Here is an article on the problem in Flint that discusses pH:
http://michiganradio.org/post/flint-...t-river-switch
I have well water, so I'm not subjected to these changes in the water... but well water has its disadvantages and challenges too. Nitrates, pH swing, and bacteria, to name a few.
What do you guys think about ph8.6?
I live in Portland, and I have been told that they target 8.1 w/ NaOH to prevent lead pipes from leaching into the water. However, when on the standard water source, which is Bull Run (very low TDS and KH), the water is pH 6.8 by the time it hits my tap, and is very stable thereafter (decreases about .2 pH to 6.6 over 24 hours). You may never see anywhere near 9.3 out of your tap.
Good luck to you!!
just to follow-up on this thread, our test phase is complete and my city is planning to add the sodium hydroxide to the water supply city-wide in july 2017 (last i heard). i think they are still aiming for the 9.6ph range but the employee i spoke to at the city said the ph level out of the tap might change a little depending how far away each home is from the water plant itself.
i obtained a water sample containing sodium hydroxide from the city to experiment with and when i first tested it this was the starting result:
after aging the water with an airstone this is where it levelled out at:
many of the local aquarists here arent ready for this change, unfortunately (they dont seem concerned about the ph swings at all), but im def not taking chances with my fish. ive downsized my hobby in anticipation and have set up a large aging barrel for regular wc - all thanks to the kind folk here who helped me to better understand my water chemistry. this forum has been an invaluable source of quality info and support.
Last edited by Kyla; 04-16-2017 at 08:48 PM.