Flourite causing increase in hardness?

H

Hooligan929

Registered Member
Apr 12, 2006
3
0
0
Avon Lake, Ohio
I'm in the process of setting up my first planted aquarium. It's an AGA 90 gallon. This past weekend I put in 7 bags of Flourite (which I rinsed pretty well) and filled it with RO/DI water (I live in NE Ohio where liquid rock comes out of the tap).

My plan was to get the pump running for a day or so, get my GH and KH where I wanted, and then make sure the CO2 system (and everything else) was working reliably before adding anything alive.

In preparation for adding chemicals I stuck my TDS meter in the tank last night, expecting to see a reading of near zero (my RO/DI water comes out of the filter with a reading of 0 or 1). It read 37. I then tested the water with my Hardness Test Kit and got an identical result, so I'm assuming it's accurate. Out of curiosity, I also tested KH and got a reading of about 6. (All these readings are ppm, not degrees.)

This morning, about 12 hours later, I again used the TDS meter in the tank and got a reading of 46. Since there is nothing else in the tank, it seems to me as though the Flourite is gradually leeching something into the water.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar, and if so, how long did it last? Any other explanations for what I am seeing?

Thanks,
Mark
 
I had the opposite problem with my harness and flourite. My pH and KH were low, I had to add crushed coral to add hardness!

I suppose it is possible though? Did you rinse the crap out of it before putting it in your tank...I spend about an hour rinsing each bag myself
 
Yes, I rinsed it pretty well. And I've had the filter running since Sunday evening. The tank is competely clear.

It will be interesting to see if it's changed at all when I get home today...
 
Yes it will leach slowly. Because you’re using RODI you will notice it more than other people. I do think after a few water changes it will not leach nearly as fast. Try doing huge water changes every few days with RO or RODI for a few weeks and you should be good to go.

Hmm 7 40 LBS bags.

I’m thinking you will need 10 to 20 water changes with 280 lbs to get it all out.

Good luck
 
Good grief, 280 pounds would be a lot of gravel in that tank!
The bags are 7 Kg each (15.4 pounds).

The rate of increase of does seem to have tapered off. It's only up 2 ppm from this morning.

Mark
 
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