happychem - it should be 2 x 17.86 =~36 ppm, but no bets are being placed on that.
Too low for CO2 for me.
Too low for CO2 for me.
Ph Buffer
- Thread starter howiehok
- Start date
Yes, I was guessing that it may be in that range assuming that dH and dKH were being used interchangeably, but I wanted to be sure.
Definitely too low for CO2, by about half, but it shouldn't be too low for a non-supplemented tank with proper maintenance. My tap is only about 10ppm and my pH satys stable between weekly 50% changes in my unsupplemented tank.
Definitely too low for CO2, by about half, but it shouldn't be too low for a non-supplemented tank with proper maintenance. My tap is only about 10ppm and my pH satys stable between weekly 50% changes in my unsupplemented tank.
ph update
water left overnight produced similar results, so no change there. Have done about 25% water change today. And yes it is 36ppm (well 35.6!), but all this means nothing to me!
So as it stands need still to raise ph, settle water doesn't seem to make much difference. Any suggestions please? Seachem do a non-phosphate alkaline buffer that would raise it without killing plants....
water left overnight produced similar results, so no change there. Have done about 25% water change today. And yes it is 36ppm (well 35.6!), but all this means nothing to me!
So as it stands need still to raise ph, settle water doesn't seem to make much difference. Any suggestions please? Seachem do a non-phosphate alkaline buffer that would raise it without killing plants....
You can add a little crushed coral to your filter. A couple tbsp. of crushed coral will keep your water buffered.
Alternatively you can slowly increase the pH of water in your tank by mixing up a solution of baking soda and water and adding a little bit to the replacement water. You'll have to experiment a little with the concentrations to get it just right for your particular setup. I can't tell you an exact number to start with but 1tsp. in 1gallon would probably be a good place to start. Try adding a cup (250mL) to your new water and see what kind of results that produces. The idea is to have a stock of buffer so that each time you do a water change you just add a fixed amount deending on the amount of water that you change.
Both of these will buffer up your water without adding PO4.
Alternatively you can slowly increase the pH of water in your tank by mixing up a solution of baking soda and water and adding a little bit to the replacement water. You'll have to experiment a little with the concentrations to get it just right for your particular setup. I can't tell you an exact number to start with but 1tsp. in 1gallon would probably be a good place to start. Try adding a cup (250mL) to your new water and see what kind of results that produces. The idea is to have a stock of buffer so that each time you do a water change you just add a fixed amount deending on the amount of water that you change.
Both of these will buffer up your water without adding PO4.
thanks for help
thanks for all suggestions. Ph is still too acidic at 5.5. And i don't know if i am over-reacting but last hour or so fish are spending much more time at surface.
thanks for all suggestions. Ph is still too acidic at 5.5. And i don't know if i am over-reacting but last hour or so fish are spending much more time at surface.
One other idea
If the Neutral Regulator is not the way you want to go, one other thing my LFS suggested more recently was to add some coral rock. They say that it naturally raises PH. You can either add decorative coral rocks if there is room for more decor, or I heard that you can also buy bags of it crushed, and stick it in the aquarium or filter. I did not look into all of the details since the Neutral Regulator has been working well for me, but you may want to check into this option if you prefer not to get stuck using a product that sounds like it may be more expensive and harder to come by in England.
Regarding the Seachem product, I had another week of steady 7.0 PH, right up to a test right before my water change, using the Neutral Regulator as my water conditioner. So, I think that the comment from another poster that you should find something "more stable" is off the mark. It is perfectly stable.
From an expense standpoint, it just costs a few dollars more than the water conditioner that was not doing anything but take out chorine/chloramine, and this product does that plus it regulates my PH. So, I do not feel like I am spending a lot of extra money. My plants have not been harmed by it, in fact many seem happier with the water being less acidic.
Good luck either way!
If the Neutral Regulator is not the way you want to go, one other thing my LFS suggested more recently was to add some coral rock. They say that it naturally raises PH. You can either add decorative coral rocks if there is room for more decor, or I heard that you can also buy bags of it crushed, and stick it in the aquarium or filter. I did not look into all of the details since the Neutral Regulator has been working well for me, but you may want to check into this option if you prefer not to get stuck using a product that sounds like it may be more expensive and harder to come by in England.
Regarding the Seachem product, I had another week of steady 7.0 PH, right up to a test right before my water change, using the Neutral Regulator as my water conditioner. So, I think that the comment from another poster that you should find something "more stable" is off the mark. It is perfectly stable.
From an expense standpoint, it just costs a few dollars more than the water conditioner that was not doing anything but take out chorine/chloramine, and this product does that plus it regulates my PH. So, I do not feel like I am spending a lot of extra money. My plants have not been harmed by it, in fact many seem happier with the water being less acidic.
Good luck either way!
Phosphates
Hmmm...
My plants have been fine, in fact healthier since I got the PH up.
I believe that in addition to eating up nitrates, the water lettuce I have floating up top is supposed to eat up excess phosphates, so maybe that is why the plants are happy.
I may try out the coral thing in case the plants could be doing even better, though. Maybe even though they seem healthy they could be growing more.
Hmmm...
My plants have been fine, in fact healthier since I got the PH up.
I believe that in addition to eating up nitrates, the water lettuce I have floating up top is supposed to eat up excess phosphates, so maybe that is why the plants are happy.
I may try out the coral thing in case the plants could be doing even better, though. Maybe even though they seem healthy they could be growing more.
