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how can i raise KH of my tank besides baking soda? Looking for long trem results?
thanks

Hi,
There are several chemicals available on the market that
will raise the KH and GH as well a lower them. You really
don't want to start with them as they can be tricky to
use, and very expensive.

The use of rocks from the carbonate family such as Limestone
dolomite, and others, will in the long term raise the KH
and GH of the water. Many, particularly those with the
African Rifts use a substrate that is 100% crushed coral,
crushed dolomite, crushed limestone, or crushed oyster
shells. That will take your GH and KH very high and
along with it the pH to the 8s.

A simple teaspoonfull or two of baking soda will affect
the KH with far less experimentation.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

isnt baking soda a short term solution, and would have to be done over and over?
I am looking for something that could solve the problem for the long term rock might be a good answer
any suggestion on common ones or how big of a piece to get?
I have a 75 gallon KH is between 2-3 degrees
thanks

also just cleaned my tank really good had problems with nitrates and droping pH, might have been old tanks syndrome fit the description. If this info helps

Hi,
Yes OTS (Old Tank Syndrome) can throw a nasty variable
into the water equations. Did I not see another post
somewhere where you said your pH was somewhere around
7.2? WIth the KH of 2 to 3, frankly, I would leave
well enough alone. Your water is fine for just about
anything you would want to put in it other than
perhaps swords, and not fine for mollies, and African
Rifts. For those, you would have to add some of the
crushed substrates mentioned in other posts.

I don't know of any site or equation that says anything
about x ounces or pounds, will change your water x number
of degrees. The use of crushed coral would be the closest
you would come to changing the KH alone, but the impurities
within coral would also affect the GH. The use of limestone
and dolomite would change the GH primarely, because of the
Mg and Ca in the rock.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I put baking soda in my tanks, and it usually lasts for a while (every other week the pH will be the same)

vic are you saying you add it everyother week?
thanks for the help guys the pH in my tank was at 6.8 and always droping i was consdtatly adding pH upper.
not sure what my GH is? last time i tryed top test it I could not get a reading.

what does GH do, I know KH helps stablize pH and prevent pH chrashes
thanks

Oz,

I would stop using additives for your water chemistry. A couple of good water changes and gravel vacuums will bring your tank nitrates down and reduce the problem of dropping pH. Use tap water for your water changes (I'll explain later!).

GH is the measure of mineral hardness in your water, KH is the carbonate hardness of your water. A KH of 3 degrees of German hardness or about 52 ppm protects against a dropping pH.

You should measure your aquarium parameters, pH, Gh and KH. Write them down. Then measure you tap water parameters after letting the water set in an open container over night. You should find that your tap water is at least 7.0 or higher for pH as few water utilities want acid water running through their pipes.

The key is your KH measurement. If iit below 3 dGh, add plain old unscented baking soda at 1 tsp per 10 gallons. Pre-dissolve it and add it when you do your water change. Wait a couple of hours and see how your KH has changed.

Dropping pH is indicative of "old tank" syndrome. Generally conditions have been less than perfect. The baking soda will help you stabilize things while you clean and do water changes.

By the way, congratulations of your return from Iraq! Thank you and God bless.

Bob Wesolowski
Captain, USNR (ret)

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

vic are you saying you add it everyother week?
thanks for the help guys the pH in my tank was at 6.8 and always droping i was consdtatly adding pH upper.

Yes, every other week.

We usually do this after a water change (we test it the day after)

Just to let you know, but pH upper is just baking soda. (read the ingredients, then read baking soda ingreadients, they will both be sodium bicarbonate