My Kh Is 0!

[Themuleous]

I tested my tanks last night and my middle tank (see sig) had a pH of 6.6 and a Kh of bearly 1. I did 50% water change with extra RO right (i use 100% RO water with added kent RO right, in all my tanks to create soft water). I have tested again this eve and the KH isn't even regestering now!

What can I do?

Tank stats

40lt
two pieces of bog wood, grapefruit sort of size
fish - see my sig to save me writing it all out!
Plants - 4/5 very sorry looking polysperma stems
Substate - 3/4mm inert gravel
GH 5
pH - 6.6 this evening
Phos - 2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 80ish

The tank has been up an running for over 6 months now and i do exactly the same in this as I do in all my other tanks which all have KH around 3/4 and pH of 7

Could the bog wood be removing the KH? One piece does seem to be wearing away quite fast?

I also had in there a clay pot for my rams, which I thought might be the problem so I removed it last night prior to the 50% water change.

Was thinking of do another water change but using tap water to replace it, it has a KH of around 10, but also has GH of 17?

Thanks people, this one has totally stumpted me!

Sam

 

[WILDER]

Don't no about the kh, but that nitrate reading wants fetching down as it's high, what is your tap nitrate reading, i would do some water changes to fetch it down.

http/www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

 

[Bloo]

I'm really not sure which tank you're talking about as I don't see a 40lt in your sig.
But if it's your largest community tank, your very high Nitrate is due to the very hight stocking levels of your tank didn't you also just add two red rainbows to this tank as well ?

I'm not sure if you understand what a kH of zero means in terms of your pH, and hopefully this article on Aquarium Chemistry (pH, gH & kH) will help you. It will describe why this is dangerous and how to try and rectify it.

Hope that helps

 

[Themuleous]

Bloozoo,

Cheers for both replys. Meant the 60lt tank (note to self change sig )

I know the nitrate is high, am trying to get it lower (this includes my big tank which also has it up around 80, my LFS kindly adopted my ever growing plec which should help a little in that one) I must say I am impressed with your observation skills, but the rainbows are actually going into my community tank at work, which I've not listed on my sig cos its not really 'mine'.

I've just popped to tesco for some baking soda and have increased the KH in the tank to around 2/3, may add more tomorrow, will see how it goes.

Thanks for the link, a quick search of the forums found it several times. I would however query the low KH = unstable pH point it makes, this link tells a different story. Having said that I was not aware that nitrate created nitric acid, guess my nitrate reading could be the cause and not my bogwood after all? But would have though I would have noticed the same thing happening in my big tank

Thanks again

Sam

 

[Bloo]

Thanks for that link Sam - I have actually seen and read it, but forgot about the scenario of a kH below 1 (it's not something I've ever dealt with).
Wish I could help you out more here, but afraid I can't.

Though I would also suggest asking the people over in the planted section. Even if you may not have a planted tank. Most of them have a far better knowledge and understanding of Aquarium water chemistry, as they deal with things like kH leveles and RO water on a regular basis.

 

[Themuleous]

Okee, will pop over there now

Sam

 

[tttnjfttt]

Out of curiousity, why are you using RO water? If your KH is extremely low, then your tap water may be fine (or just mix in more tap water when you do change it). RO water has no buffers in it, so they do have to be added back in.