Water Chemistry Advice

[phishyphil]

Okay. So as I am about to tear down the 75 gallon tank and go with a dirt substrate, I though it best to recheck all my current water stats, as I know the soil substrate will lower my ph

Here are the results

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0



On a Roll i thought I would go onto to check the rest, and was a little concerened

pH - 5.5
gH - 180 ppm(moderately hard)
kh - <10 ppm

Now im no expert but isnt my kH supposed to be higher than this? my pH has always been around 7 neutral, whats happened?

I decided to Check my tap water, results as follows :

pH - 7.2
gH - 80 ppm
kh - 40 ppm

What should i be doing here?

 

[ColR1948]

Have you something in the tank that is softening the water like Peat or Bogwood?

 

[phishyphil]

Not any more, not. removed them all the other day. Seems kH is low, thus in able of buffering pH. Thinking maybe the bogwood + mopani wood did this then, the kH increase now it has been removed?

 

[ColR1948]

Not sure, I'm no expert on the wood, if you had a lot maybe that might have done it but if you only had a small amount then perhaps not.
I'm sure someone else with more knowledge on the wood issue will answer.

 

[phishyphil]

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