is my kh too high for my co2???

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

is it possible for my kh to be too high?? its is at 10 and my ph is 7.5-8.... and thats with co2....

[Aquafreak]

If you can bring the pH down to about 7.2-7.3 using CO2, I think that'll be enough for the tank. A higher KH just needs more CO2 to bring it down, if your using DIY CO2, just add another bottle or change the recipe, if pressurized, just turn it up. 7.5-7.8pH according to the charts, is giving you less than 10ppm of CO2. You could use RO water to bring the KH down, but it's easier to do it with CO2. HTH

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

yes it does help... is there any other way to lower kh besides ro??? or do any water dispensers sell ro??? cuz i will pay for a low kh :p

[Aquafreak]

If your willing to pay to lower your KH, then you could buy RO water, or an RO unit also you could buy a pressurized CO2 system. They're all more expensive than fiddling with your DIY CO2.

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

yes it does help... is there any other way to lower kh besides ro??? or do any water dispensers sell ro??? cuz i will pay for a low kh :p

[Aquafreak]

Usually LFS sell RO water by the gallons.

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

didnt mean to post twice ( i forgot if i had already posted) well... i put another bottle, so if 4 dont work, ill try 5, then if all else fails, ill just start using ro water.... is it .25$ a gallon ??

[Aquafreak]

I'm not sure about US LFS prices, but that about sounds right

[Glenstorm]

How big is this tank?!?!

4 bottles for CO2 seems like a lot!! What is your method of absorbsion? I have one bottle with a KH of about 10 that is giving me about 25ppm of CO2.

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

only a 55g..... i have a pic of my set-up here.....



http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1974470&uid=1053827&members=1

[Starry]

You shouldn't need that many bottles. Just open the caps and add about 1/4 tsp more yeast to each one, see what that does after about a day. If it's not enough, add more.

[plantbrain]

A word of advice before you go out and buy a RO unit.

Plants want what? CO2 or a certain KH? A certain pH? They care about CO2. Whatever combinations that gets 20-30ppm will suit you.

If your KH is 10, then a pH 7.0- 7.1 range is good. If your KH is 3 then 6.5 -6.6 range is good and so on. Both yield the same amount of CO2.

Now an RO unit is fine if you want to reduce the salts in your tap water for drinking, it's better than buying bottled water for 1$ a bottle etc.
Or if you want to breed certain fish, but it's not for the plants.

RO is not for plants specifically, perhaps some other purpose relating to fish, but not plants. You'll find that road full of extra work, added cost and very little fruit for it.

Get a gas CO2 system before you ever consider a RO system.

Regards.,
Tom Barr

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

ok plantbrain, how much can i get a real co2 kit for?? including a reactor and everything else i need. i dont want to have to pay like 200-300$$ tho'