Before adding CO2...

I am trying to raise my KH also. I bought Kent KH+ and have only dosed once so far. I was able to measure a raise in KH yesterday but dropped today. I am about to dose again tonight and see what happens. If in the next few days the addatives dont stay I will try the coral thing.
 
Ok, this is quite confusing!

Um, if I add the crushed coral in my fitler, it will take a few days to raise my kH to 3, and the crushed coral will also augment the gH levels in the water. I have a cory and plan on a few dwarf puffers. I also have swords, java ferns, annubias, and anacharis. Raising the gH won't harm the fishes and plants, yea?

So if I tested my kH and gH, what should they read for the conditions to be right for injecting the CO2? And then after I add the CO2, what range should my pH be idealy (~7.0?)?
 
WinterWind said:
So if I tested my kH and gH, what should they read for the conditions to be right for injecting the CO2? And then after I add the CO2, what range should my pH be idealy (~7.0?)?
I'll leave the gH in conjunction with your stock question to someone else, but I am planning on adding crushed coral to a tank with German Blue, Blue and Bolivian Rams and they are as sensitive to hard water as just about any commonly available freshwater fish and have been told it’ll be ok.

You want to test your kH to find out where it is. If it is > 3 degrees then you have absolutely no need for crushed coral or baking soda at this time.

Once you know what your kH is, you use the chart at the bottom of this page and add CO2 until your pH drops to a level that coincides with the CO2 level you were striving to achieve.

In my case, I am striving for a kH of 3 degrees and a pH of 6.6 thus giving me a CO2 level of 23ppm.
 
Starting with what kH level will it be dangerous for my fish and plants? I would like to keep my pH at about 7.0, and that would mean I would have 3.5 to 8.0. Would an 8.0 kH be harmful to my fishes?
 
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