OK - here's the scoop.
I went about my water change as usual last Sunday. Prior to the change, my PH was once again down to 6.0 or less. My KH was 1dkh.
After my 7 gallon change (29 gl tank), my ph was back up to 6.4 (approx.) My KH was still at 1dkh.
Then I tested the KH of my tap water - 2dkh!
That explains allot! This is probably the main reason why my PH is so low, and so unstable!
Aftrerwards, I added 1 tsp of baking soda. Whoa!..what a difference!
My KH shot up from 1 to 3dkh and my ph shot from 6.4 to 7.0.
I was a bit worried about the ph spike and the safety of my fish but knock on wood they're doing fine. To play it safe I added 6 tsps of Stress Coat to the tank. I normally do this anyway after a water change.
On a side note, my WaterSprite and Cabomba are continuing to grow like weeds - especially the Cabomba!
My Ludwigia appears to be doing fine, just growing at an average pace.
Why would the 2 degree increase in my KH raise my PH so quickly? I understood KH to be a measure of the stability/alkaline content of the water. I was expecting my PH to simply become more stable and through water changes, steadily raise myPH.
I went about my water change as usual last Sunday. Prior to the change, my PH was once again down to 6.0 or less. My KH was 1dkh.
After my 7 gallon change (29 gl tank), my ph was back up to 6.4 (approx.) My KH was still at 1dkh.
Then I tested the KH of my tap water - 2dkh!
That explains allot! This is probably the main reason why my PH is so low, and so unstable!
Aftrerwards, I added 1 tsp of baking soda. Whoa!..what a difference!
My KH shot up from 1 to 3dkh and my ph shot from 6.4 to 7.0.
I was a bit worried about the ph spike and the safety of my fish but knock on wood they're doing fine. To play it safe I added 6 tsps of Stress Coat to the tank. I normally do this anyway after a water change.
On a side note, my WaterSprite and Cabomba are continuing to grow like weeds - especially the Cabomba!
My Ludwigia appears to be doing fine, just growing at an average pace.
Why would the 2 degree increase in my KH raise my PH so quickly? I understood KH to be a measure of the stability/alkaline content of the water. I was expecting my PH to simply become more stable and through water changes, steadily raise myPH.