High Ph

[JJJ]

Sorry, Thats "Thanks again Vicki"

 

[Dave Spencer]

First off, I would take the phosphate remover out of the filter if I was you. Your plants need the phosphur.

Plus, a word of caution. If you don`t want to upset your fish, then leave the kH of the water well alone. Messing about with it will upset your fish more than messing about with the pH.

Dave.

 

[JJJ]

First off, I would take the phosphate remover out of the filter if I was you. Your plants need the phosphur.

Plus, a word of caution. If you don`t want to upset your fish, then leave the kH of the water well alone. Messing about with it will upset your fish more than messing about with the pH.

Dave.

Hi Dave
I did remove the phoshate remover, What Kh is required for plants? Is 13dkh Ok?

Thanks

 

[Dave Spencer]

Plants couldn`t care less about kH. They are far more adaptable than you would think. Give them the right light and ferts and growing becomes easy.

Dave.

 

[JJJ]

Plants couldn`t care less about kH. They are far more adaptable than you would think. Give them the right light and ferts and growing becomes easy.

Dave.

Thanks Dave,
I am also reading though the attatchment, did the E1 work for you?
I have no CO2 inlection in my tank, looking at UKAPs, is there a simplier solution for a my 40gal? Will a dyi co2 reactor be able to do 30ppm.. i already have a airline into the tank,

I have 2.5 watt/gal lighting , i have too many q's, I'II start a new tread in plants forum...

BTW I did 30% water change PH is still 8, added 1/2 recoccommended KH powder ,it is has gone down to 9dKH from 13 dKH..

Cheers JJJ

 

[Dave Spencer]

I am also reading though the attatchment, did the E1 work for you?

Like a dream. It looks complicated, but once you understand the basic premise of giving your plants everything to excess, it is easy. Just get the CO2 right (easy with pressurised), and have enough fast growing plants at the start. There will be nothing you can`t grow.

I have no CO2 inlection in my tank, looking at UKAPs, is there a simplier solution for a my 40gal? Will a dyi co2 reactor be able to do 30ppm.. i already have a airline into the tank,

UKAPS is the way ahead if you are in the UK and interested in planted tanks! There are plans for a few DIY reactors about, including UKAPS. Achieving 30ppm should be a doddle, as they are very efficient. Get rid of the airline as it will degas your water of CO2.

I have 2.5 watt/gal lighting , i have too many q's, I'II start a new tread in plants forum...

You have light levels that virtually dictate EI, and a tank size that virtually dictates pressurised CO2 as opposed to DIY, which can be unstable. WPG is very vague, so see if you need to go down the ferts route or not. Algae issues will let you know.

Dave.

 

[JJJ]

HI all,
just an update:

I tried the rock experieriment made no diff to PH, however have not added Kh powder after water changes for about three weeks/ KH has dropped down to 6 dkh, this has also dropped the PH from 8.2 to 7.4, this week i will add some KH to keep it around 5 or 6, don't want it to drop further as it may cause ph Crash . all other parameters are fine.

As for the plants I have not added pressurised CO2 to the water, I have carbon in a liquid form( excell, currently doubling the amounts every second day, and also icreasing other nutrients, plants seen to be improving, slowling though.

I add florish( iron phospate and spme trace elements- every 2 days) and excel( carbon-daily)....

I think my problem is the substrate I have no Iron in my substrate and my gravel size is a little large (60-70mm) so before I consider co2 I have to fix my substrate. Any suggestions?

cheers JJJ

 

[JJJ]

Hi All,

Been on Hol's

Just a quick update on plants and progress:

I have managed to get my Kh down to 3 dkH , did the regular maintanence without adding kh power for a month, Ph has also degreased marginally down to 7.6, the rocks had no effect

as a result my plants are much healthier , new shoots ect, stems still thin, still missing something? not sure if I add iron, will will wffect my Gh ?

Is there anything I could do with the substate to improve things?

My GH iis still 9 dkh, i think I am adding too much flourish 3ml 2 x week as recommended, how can i decrease Gh

I am still looking at the CO2 option, I am using the liquid form of CO2, excell( double reccommended dose)plants have recovered

thanks again,

jjj

 

[tenohfive]

Personally I wouldn't add any KH powder and just leave the tank alone. I've got no scientific basis for this, just the fact that you're messing about with the water chemistry and you've got fluctuating levels as a result.

I've got a 7.2 pH at the tap with 8.0 in the tank, don't add any additive (other than dechlor for water changes and ferts) and my pH is stable and has been for the past 6 months. I keep GBR's in that tank (which like a low pH) and they're happy as larry.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," seems to apply here. Leave everything be for a week - its all well and good saying you want a buffer to avoid pH crashes, but they don't just happen by themselves - so if you're not doing anything to trigger them then its not going to be an issue.


My 2p.