[AquaticLife] Big problem
With pH, there is 7.0 (neutral) and then there are lower pH (acidic/acid) and higher pH (basic/base). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid-base_reaction_theories The pH down type product is an acid which reacted with the basic chemical substances in the water which then caused the pH crash.
I’m not sure when and where the word “alkaline” or “alkalinity” came into being misused when talking about higher pH levels but unfortunately I see it misused in many website articles and even some aquarium related magazine articles. I think that someone, somewhere wanted a new word to describe the higher pH levels rather than calling them “basic” since the word “basic” is more commonly used when describing basic things not related to pH. Another reason is that alkaline chemical agents (salts, calcium carbonate, limestone, etc.) did raise the pH of the water so a basic water with a pH above 7.0 usually also has higher levels of alkaline substances in the water… but not always.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline explains that alkali is a “basic” (high pH) ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal element. Alkalis are best known for being bases.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Base_(chemistry) In chemistry, a base is most commonly thought of as an aqueous substance that can accept protons. This refers to the Brønsted-Lowry theory of acids and bases (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid-base_reaction_theories#The_protonic_.28Br ..C3.B8nsted-Lowry.29_definition).
Lenny Vasbinder Fish Blog - http://GoldLenny.blogspot.com
Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society
