mcr
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Posts: 87
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Post by mcr on Dec 12, 2018 0:54:54 GMT -5
About five weeks ago I started a new 75 gal. I put in some old sand and gravel and three bags of new sand. I used a brand new large sunken ship my wife bought and some drift wood from another tank. I planted three large sword plants, water wisteria, a large rotalla indea and some grass type plants. I also put in a couple 3”-4” rocks from another tank. I put in two cycled foam filters and a new sun sun canister with Matrix. I have five angel fish, 8 zebra danios, three cardinal tetras, 1 paradise fish and a vampire pleco. After about three weeks I tested the water and did a 20% water change just to vacuum the sand since there were no nitrates yet. No Amonia or nitrites either. Funny thing is the PH was7.8 GH 5 KH5 but my tape water is PH 7.4 GH 1-2 KH 2. The only thing I’ve added to the tank is flourish tabs and excel. Two days after the first water change I had to drain 75% of the water to remove tiger barbs I had in there. Now one week later I still have PH 7.8 GH 4 KH 4. I’m not complaining but what could be raising my GH and KH? I’d like to do it in my other tanks. I bought a dozen large wonder shells and have been adding them to my tanks one at a time so I can monitor the changes but haven’t got to this tank yet. I started with the guppies and platies. They really help my low GH. Thanks,Mark
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Post by Carl on Dec 12, 2018 10:32:27 GMT -5
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Dec 12, 2018 12:27:04 GMT -5
It must be some decor or substrate brought up the KH. 5 is actually good. It is still a little low for live barriers, but still in a good range. Could be a little higher. Only think you could do is run some test in separate water adding the sub, decor, separately and taking readings each time.
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Post by kagome on Dec 12, 2018 16:05:48 GMT -5
What kind of sand is it?
My Dad's 55 has aragonite substrate and his GH and KH are much higher even though we use the same tap water. The aragonite is calcium carbonate so it leaches these into his water.
Because of the higher KH, pH in his tank is just above 8 while mine is around 7.2
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mcr
Full Member
Posts: 87
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Post by mcr on Dec 13, 2018 1:12:13 GMT -5
Well, some of the sand came from a used tank I bought so I guess that could be it. May never know. I’ll just keep an eye it. Thanks for all the input and the link to the article.
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Post by Carl on Dec 13, 2018 9:40:10 GMT -5
It must be some decor or substrate brought up the KH. 5 is actually good. It is still a little low for live barriers, but still in a good range. Could be a little higher. Only think you could do is run some test in separate water adding the sub, decor, separately and taking readings each time. I stand corrected, I looked at the tap water KH Carl
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