How Much Calcium Carbonate to Add for Optimal pH in a Fish Tank?

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To raise the pH of water from 5.0 to 6.5 for breeding small fish, calcium carbonate is the only available option. The calculations for the required amount of calcium carbonate are complex due to the presence of buffers in the water, which affect the pH adjustment. A suggested approach involves determining the concentration of hydroxide ions needed, but the initial pH's buffering capacity complicates the calculation. The discussion highlights that without knowing the specific buffering agents in the water, the exact amount of calcium carbonate needed cannot be accurately determined. Ultimately, the relationship between pH, pOH, and the buffering system must be carefully considered for effective pH adjustment.
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Considering a fish breeder decided to breed small fishes which needs a pH between 6,0 to 7,0 to stay alive. He needs to adjust the water's pH that is 5,0 to a value of 6.5, having available only calcium carbonate. The mass in mg added to 5L of water is about:
A)2,5

B)5,5

C)6,5

D)7,5

E)9,5
 
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What do YOU think?
 
I think if I have 10-5 of pH value we need 10-9 of pOH value to make Kw=-14
the reaction of water with CaCo3 is 2 per 1
(H+) + (OH-) + CO3(2-) + Ca(2+)----> HCO3(-) + Ca2(+) OH(-)
(H+) + (OH-) +HCO3(-) + (Ca(2+) + OH(-)-----> H2CO3 + Ca(OH)2
since I need only 10^-2 concentration of OH- and we have only 5L of water:

5.10(-2) mols of OH-. But 1 mol of CaCO3 gives 2 mols OH, we need only 2.5x10(-2) but this answer is wrong,
 
As asked this question has no answer, as we don't know what is responsible for the initial pH - typically water contains some buffers and the amount of base/acid required to change the pH depends of their concentration. Then, adding carbonates creates another buffer set, making the calculation a bit more convoluted than just the neutralization would do.

marcelo said:
I think if I have 10-5 of pH value we need 10-9 of pOH value to make Kw=-14
This is way too cryptic for me to guess what you mean. Or, if I guess right, you are mixing pH with [H+] and so on as if they were the same thing - they are not.
 
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