kh

[lpiasente]

I am having trouble keeping my ph stable. My kh is soo low I can't get a reading. I have added about a cup of shell grit and crushed coral to 1 canister. Is that enough or too much? Thanks

[ILLUSN]

i generally use 2tsp-1tbl spoon /100L of tank volume.

[lpiasente]

I think I overdosed a little. Now to sweet talk hubby into pulling the canister apart again

[lpiasente]

does it need to be done today?

[ILLUSN]

no you'll get a very slow leach of co3 as the shell grit disolves you could leave it for a week or 2 if you like.

[lpiasente]

Thanks

[Bill Tune]

My understanding of kH is that it will be used up as quickly as your tank drifts towards acidity, which will be sped up by a build up of waste - infrequent water changes, too many fish, something dead in the tank....

In my 280 litre tank with 6 discuss, 20 or so tetra;s & some cory's etc., I put one or two teaspoons per water change which keeps the kH at about 2 or 3 degrees.

I'm told it's also good stuff for plants.

[ozarowana]

Aquasonic make a carbonate hardness generator if you want something quicker. Remember raising KH will also raise your pH.

[ILLUSN]

adding crushed coral gives a slow constant leach of both kh and gh (carbonate and magnesium) will help delay a ph crash like your describing. it wont be "exausted" like buffers and powders.

[Graham]

I'd like to know how crushed coral, calcium carbonate/CaCO3 is going to leach magnesium back into the water...it's coming from where??..

Depending on the pH of the water, CC will help buffer/KH and harden/ GH the water to a degree. The higher the pH of the existing water needless to say the less affect it will have