Help with KH

[acocacolagirl]

Can I stabalize/create KH in my tank?

This is a new tank that started having PH problems during the fishless cycle. So I was directed to get a KH test kit. I finally got the kit and the fish. Here are the results:

37 gallons
KH = 17.9 ppm or 1 'dKH (or less, it was VERY pale yellow)
PH = 6
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 10-15

The fish have been in the tank since Sat afternoon - these results are from Monday. There is a ropefish, 3 gouramis, and a snail. I tested the water before I got the fish, but I didnt have the KH kit yet - had to go to three lfs to get it, and the PH was at 7.5 which is what my 10 gallon tank has been at since I got it a year ago, so I think that is standard for my water. Of course, I added baking soda to bring the PH up again, but is there anything else that can be done besides adding b.s. every other day?

The tank has no live plants. There is slate, standard tank decor, some rocks of unknown origin which I tested for reaction with hydrochloric acid, and gravel which looks like standard tank stuff, but I got it used with the tank so I am unsure, but I did test a bit of it too with the Hydrochloric acid, but it is mixed with several types of rock, I could have missed one. Also, before adding the fish, for three days in a row, I did a 50% or more water change to bring down the nitrate.

 

[liv2padl]

you can add some crushed coral to the system ... i can't tell you how much since this depends on your particular water chemistry. you'll have to experiment with it and arrive at that amount of coral which gives you the parameters you're looking for.

there are essentially two ways to use coral .. (a) either in a separate filter (a cannister is best) as a KH generator, or (b) as a substrate.

 

[acocacolagirl]

So I can get crushed coral at the lfs? And then once I get it balanced, it should stay relatively stable?

 

[liv2padl]

yes, you can get crushed coral at most LFS's. coral is essentially calcium carbonate. this will slowly leach into your water and in time, you'll have to replace it since its capacity to buffer will have diminished. remember though, that when you make a water change, the new water will not have the same chemistry as the water in your tank, ... so don't make changes larger than about 20-30 percent.