How does salt(NaCl) affect KH and GH?

[deocder]

My old measurements were 5 dKH and 9 dGH. I am currently treating my tank for Ich using 2/3 teaspoon per gallon and the measurements are 2 dKH and 17 dGH. pH was 6.8 and is now 6.4. Temp is 86 degrees F. CO2 is in use but I think it should be stopped so it does not push the pH down further. Any comments/suggestion?

 

[RTR]

Salt, sodium chloride, NaCl, does not affect either KH or GH.

 

[slipknottin]

salt should not affect Kh or Gh.

 

[deocder]

It must be the new substrate then.....I guess

 

[OrionGirl]

What type of salt are you using? NaCl does not alter the GH, KH or pH, but some types of salt may contain other additives that will--marine salt mix being the best example. Marine salt mix contains buffers to increase KH and pH both--which is desirable for marine tanks.

 

[deocder]

It's just aquarium salt from Jungle Products. It must be my substrate because I just removed all the old stuff and added new.

 

[OrionGirl]

What is the new substrate?

 

[deocder]

The substrate is a dusting of peat on the bottom, plus mulm, 45 lbs of Flourite mixed with 30 lbs of Shultz Aquatic Soil.

Maybe its the peat....

 

[RTR]

Peat, if it has any effect, would reduce GH/KH, but a dusting should not have any detectable effect on the hardness. Nor should Flourite. I have not used the Shultz substrate, don't know there.

 

[OrionGirl]

I have the Schultz aquatic soil in several tanks. It hasn't changed the parameters in any of my tanks. The soil does has a neutral itself, and it isn't supposed to leach anything or alter paramters.

Did you rinse it well before putting it in? I don't think that would make a difference...