Can I make my own "ph up" and "ph down"?

[10k]

This thread would be much better if you'd get rid of all references to SODIUM in any and all forms, including and especially the use of sodium hydroxide which is a ph up for swimming pools, hot tubs and aquariums where there are no plants.

For example : Aquarium & fish keepers prefer potassium hydroxide for a pH up because it is not poisonous to the aquarium plants like the cheaper sodium hydroxide pH up does.

Yea I read where you said small quantities are harmless sproutco, but I'm not buying into it.

 

[gattorama]

hi!

very interesting thread!

I'd like to have your opinion about ph buffers: I'm using RO water and have some problem with ph fluctuations. In other words, since I use non buffered nutes (nutes that are not hydro specific), the ph in my hydro solution tends to have a lowering ph.

Today I started using potassium bicarbonate, as I read that carbonates and bicarbonates should provide some buffering to my water.

Am I right? Could you please elaborate on buffering solutions that could be helpful in our hobby?

thanks.

 

[sproutco]

Try .28 grams potassium bicarbonate per gallon of water. This adds 30 ppm potassium.