Absent active interventions such as injecting CO2 gas, having an ‘active substrate’ and the metabolic processes of fish and plants, the pH of an aquarium will equilibrate to a level mostly determined by the alkalinity of the water – the amount of externally supplied bicarbonate and carbonate ions. In most cases, “externally supplied” means came […]
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Evidence-based systematic investigation using experiment, scientific literature, and/or first principles to explain and predict outcomes.
The pH of water in an aquarium is a measurement of the concentration of hydronium ions H3O+ (or just H+ for short). Neutral water has a pH of 7, and solutions with a pH lower than 7 are described as ‘acidic’ and those above pH 7 as ‘basic’ or ‘alkaline’. The pH of aquarium water […]
Read more →Shrimphaus is usually around pH 8.2 The Shrimphaus has an equilibrium pH of around 8.2 which is on the alkaline side. Chemistry and geology of Cambridgeshire water makes this the case, discussed below. Chalk aquifers mean hard, alkaline water Cambridgeshire water flows through chalk (calcium carbonate: CaCO3) aquifers making the water very hard. Carbon dioxide […]
Read more →A drop checker is a simple and reliable device for measuring the level of dissolved CO2 in aquarium water. The drop checker hangs from the wall of the tank inside the tank and completely underwater, e.g. with a suction cup, and contains a liquid with a pH indicator dye in the “drop” portion which is […]
Read more →“Estimative Index” aquarium plant fertiliser method and strategy The ‘estimative index’ (EI) is a fertilizer concept originated by Tom Barr where the general idea is to never have plant nutrients be limiting in the water column. Plants will grow and generally outcompete algae (so the theory goes). In practice, while I’m sure the outcompeting part […]
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