Hey everyone, I was hoping someone could offer some helpful insight on this. I've been messing with aquatic plants and CO2 injection...before starting the CO2 injection finally via pressurized CO2, I tested water parameters (CO2/pH) and found a rather shocking issue.
Right now in the tank...(all measurements done with a AP Liquid Test Kit)
kH/GH both measured 12+ (the color kind of changed after 12 drops)
pH was 8.1
Right out of the tap..I used half hot/half cold like I do when I fill up the aquarium
kH/GH 8
pH was 7.8
while a pH swing of .3 in the tank isn't much of a problem, somehow the kH/GH is rising by 4. Last water change was 50% last Friday. While the fish seem to fine and I'm not aware of any ill side effects, such a fluctuation doesn't seem normal and might indicate something else wrong...
Substrate is 50% eco-complete/50% standard black PetSmart aquarium gravel...water is passed through the Eheim 2213 filter, just the Ehifimech, Ehifisubstrat, and filter padding...nothing special. I'm not too sure whether this kH/gH fluctuation is something that I should be concerned about, or if anyone had any advice on what to look to see if somethings causing it.
Right now in the tank...(all measurements done with a AP Liquid Test Kit)
kH/GH both measured 12+ (the color kind of changed after 12 drops)
pH was 8.1
Right out of the tap..I used half hot/half cold like I do when I fill up the aquarium
kH/GH 8
pH was 7.8
while a pH swing of .3 in the tank isn't much of a problem, somehow the kH/GH is rising by 4. Last water change was 50% last Friday. While the fish seem to fine and I'm not aware of any ill side effects, such a fluctuation doesn't seem normal and might indicate something else wrong...
Substrate is 50% eco-complete/50% standard black PetSmart aquarium gravel...water is passed through the Eheim 2213 filter, just the Ehifimech, Ehifisubstrat, and filter padding...nothing special. I'm not too sure whether this kH/gH fluctuation is something that I should be concerned about, or if anyone had any advice on what to look to see if somethings causing it.