Kh Very Low!

[Rorie]

My KH is so low! the test shows yellow after the first drop, so is below 1! How do i raise it to an appropriate level without raising my PH? My PH is at 6.5 which is where i want it.... but if i add baking soda to raise the KH, the PH will also rise?

 

[KittyKat]

Why are you trying to raise it?

 

[Rorie]

Why are you trying to raise it?

Anything higher than it is! I have cardinals, so as far as i am aware, i should aim for 3-4? But thats where i am slightly confused, if KH is the buffering capacity, surly i want it tobe as high as possible?! But currently at a value below 1, i risk killing my fish with PH fluctuations! So i want to raise it....but keep my PH at 6.5

 

[KittyKat]

..why are you getting pH fluctuations? Do you do very large water changes?

Carbonate hardness is related to pH in that it buffers water to a high pH. You would still get pH fluctuations if you do anything that could cause them even if the carbonate hardness was higher.

 

[Rorie]

..why are you getting pH fluctuations? Do you do very large water changes?

Carbonate hardness is related to pH in that it buffers water to a high pH. You would still get pH fluctuations if you do anything that could cause them even if the carbonate hardness was higher.

I have not got PH fluctuations. I just want to keep my KH low....but if i add bicarb to raise the KH, then the PH will also raise to 7? So i was wondering if there was a way to raise the KH without changing the PH. What KH should i aim for?

I have just tested afer adding bicarb and my PH has not changed much, but my KH has gone from less than 1, to 4 which is better.

 

[KittyKat]

So, you haven't got a problem with pH and your KH isn't causing any problems and you want to fix this?

There will be absolutely no difference to your cardinals if your KH is 1 or 4. I think you're worrying over nothing

 

[Rorie]

So, you haven't got a problem with pH and your KH isn't causing any problems and you want to fix this?

There will be absolutely no difference to your cardinals if your KH is 1 or 4. I think you're worrying over nothing

I have read that if my KH is low, below 4 is what was stated, then this can cause a PH crash?!

Surly if my KH is zero, i have no buffer for my PH?

 

[KittyKat]

If you tank is mature, it is unlikely to. Even if it does, it usually crashes to 6.0-6.4, which isn't far off from 6.5, so won't affect most fish and then you can keep it at the 'crashed' value. In my experience, cardinals and most SA blackwater fish do very well at anywhere from 5.0 to 6.5.
If you really want to buffer, filter through some crushed coral, but that will affect pH.

 

[Rorie]

If you tank is mature, it is unlikely to. Even if it does, it usually crashes to 6.0-6.4, which isn't far off from 6.5, so won't affect most fish and then you can keep it at the 'crashed' value. In my experience, cardinals and most SA blackwater fish do very well at anywhere from 5.0 to 6.5.
If you really want to buffer, filter througb some crashed coral, but that will affect pH.

hmm, ok, so basically, if i dont mind a low PH, then i dont need to worry about KH? KH only becomes important if i want a high PH?

Thanks for your help btw

 

[KittyKat]

If you tank is mature, it is unlikely to. Even if it does, it usually crashes to 6.0-6.4, which isn't far off from 6.5, so won't affect most fish and then you can keep it at the 'crashed' value. In my experience, cardinals and most SA blackwater fish do very well at anywhere from 5.0 to 6.5.
If you really want to buffer, filter through some crushed coral, but that will affect pH.

hmm, ok, so basically, if i dont mind a low PH, then i dont need to worry about KH? KH only becomes important if i want a high PH?

Yep, that's right.

 

[Rorie]

If you tank is mature, it is unlikely to. Even if it does, it usually crashes to 6.0-6.4, which isn't far off from 6.5, so won't affect most fish and then you can keep it at the 'crashed' value. In my experience, cardinals and most SA blackwater fish do very well at anywhere from 5.0 to 6.5.
If you really want to buffer, filter through some crushed coral, but that will affect pH.

hmm, ok, so basically, if i dont mind a low PH, then i dont need to worry about KH? KH only becomes important if i want a high PH?

Yep, that's right.

Great, thank you!