Kh Low Should I Increase?

[keenonfish]

Hi folks well I finally got my tank sorted (Vision 180) at the weekend . Bought a load of plants from LFS (I haven't gone for an artistic approach, more a 'LFS stock tank 3/4 full of plants' lol!) and transferred a week old Co2 bottle from my other tank along with a bit of media, I also fixed up a second Co2 bottle in parallel. I also made my own Co2 reactor which seems to be quite effective and this is where I need some more advice...

I got a Kh test kit and my tap water appears to be around 2. Well 2 drops anyway so I guess it sits somewhere around this value.
I hooked up my reactor with 2 Co2 bottles and after about a day I noticed one of my Platies gasping at the top. Performed tests and everything was just fine (amm, NitI, NitA) except that my Ph had dropped from 7.0 to 6.0 According to an online calc this gave Co2 levels of 60ppm!
ok so for now I have removed one of the bottles and pointed the output of the compact h to the surface and my platies (x2) seem much happier. I will perform a ph test later today.

Sooo, I am now left wondering what to do. I don't want a one bottle system as I understand this could cause algal problems. Should I buffer the water with Bicarb / crushed coral to raise the kH? Maybe my reactor is a bit too effective as it initially left lots of tiny bubbles floating around the tank so perhaps I should use a diffuser instaed?

I don't know any suggestions are welcome!

 

[aaronnorth]

the online calculators work of ph/ kh levels to work out the CO2 levels, howerver they do not work as other acidic substances change this result - what happens if you already have a ph6 and kh2 - does that mean you have 60ppm of CO2 constantly?
You need to buy a drop checker, there is a basic giude in my signature

 

[keenonfish]

the online calculators work of ph/ kh levels to work out the CO2 levels, howerver they do not work as other acidic substances change this result - what happens if you already have a ph6 and kh2 - does that mean you have 60ppm of CO2 constantly?
You need to buy a drop checker, there is a basic giude in my signature

Yeah I got a drop checker but honestly thought the ph / kh method was more accurate! Oh well! I have also made my own 4dkh which I have tested to within half a deci by using 10ml instead of 5ml - solution goes off blue at 7 drops and turns yellow on exactly 8 drops so seems ok.

Will fill the drop checker up and see how she goes...

 

[aaronnorth]

lol, i also explain the kh/ ph tables etc in the DC guide in my sig if you want a read.

 

[keenonfish]

lol, i also explain the kh/ ph tables etc in the DC guide in my sig if you want a read.

Yeah I had read your post but since then forgot and found another source which convinced me of the opposite I think I am trying to do too many other things atm so my head is a little overloaded