Snowmelt pH

[jimscott]

I decided to take the pH of my collected snowmelt water, using litmus paper. It comes out to 5. Talk about acid rain....

 

[SeanH]

You can tell the differences in the seasons via pH which correspond the varying CO2 levels. I did this a few years back in Aquatic Toxicology class.

 

[xvart]

That is interesting. Have you ever tested your normal rain water's pH?

xvart.

 

[jimscott]

I'll have to test the rain water in a few months. I'm wondering if this acidic water is a bad thing for Mexican pings. Maybe I should stop using it and go with the distilled.

 

[herenorthere]

A pH of 5 isn't at all acidic for precipitation in the east. Distilled water in equilibrium with atmospheric CO2 will have pH ~ 5.5. With the higher CO2 level in the potting media, the pH will drop further.