KH up

[aquaSynthesis]

i saw a tub of this KH Up while in NA yesterday. can anyone tell me what is it for actually? how do i dose it?

[zenscape]

From the name, I believe it is used to increase KH. But it may not be safe to add chemical into the tank if the content of it is unknown. Why not try adding cabonate to raise KH? Or consider adding coral shell in the filter- trial and error and measure KH to the desirable level.

By the way, any reason to 'up' KH?

[aquaSynthesis]

i have no idea what KH is all about, even though been trying to read up all the post in regards to Kh in AQ.... my bad

to simplify it means raising the Ph level...am i correct?

[aquaSynthesis]

and for a start i dun even know how to measure ppm etc! urgh!! so much time reading but didn't understand....duh~~

[zenscape]

Ok Rizal, for a start, you may want to read up this article Chuck's Planted Tank Pages

[aquaSynthesis]

Ok Rizal, for a start, you may want to read up this article Chuck's Planted Tank Pages

I appreciate it a lot!

[taz_boy]

i am also dosing kh up powder. but not sure if we using the same brand.

just dose as per suggested in the bottle.

use a KH test kit to test your kh before and after dosing...

the reason to up the kh is to create more buffer for ph changes.

if kh is low, changes in ph will be greater when co2 is on/off.

frequent changing of tank water actually decrease the kh of the tank since the water from our tap are generally low in kh.

[aquaSynthesis]

i am also dosing kh up powder. but not sure if we using the same brand.

just dose as per suggested in the bottle.

use a KH test kit to test your kh before and after dosing...

the reason to up the kh is to create more buffer for ph changes.

if kh is low, changes in ph will be greater when co2 is on/off.

frequent changing of tank water actually decrease the kh of the tank since the water from our tap are generally low in kh.

will changes in Ph occur when there's a difference in temp?

my room temp is normally ard 27...sometimes at night when i turned on the A/C temp dropped to 23-24. never tried reading the Ph while the temp is at its lowest though...

[taz_boy]

i dont think there's a relationship between pH and temperature

[mark0308]

Hi, i think those Kh up power are just sodium bicarbonate and the price is inflated. I use sodium bicarbonate ( baking soda ) King's brand from NTUC to increase my Kh. Hope it helps.
Best regards

[taz_boy]

i think baking soda will cost more in long run.

You have to dose more of baking soda especially if your tank is big, in my case is 3ft.

i have stop using baking soda for quite sometime because 1 bottle of it only last me like 2months if i dose weekly after water change.

so do a comparison, those Kh up power may be more economical

[Loopy]

In essence, you will be "upping" your KH. So "KH Up" would be the correct name for the powder you saw at NA.

taz_boy sums it up the best. So read his reply.

I use JBJ KH Powder together with Aqumedi Test KH test kit which I bought from polyart at 328.

Blue > Green > Yellow (Is how the Test Kit Works). I maintain a KH of 2~4.

Since I do 24/7 CO2 Fertilization and 24/7 Surface Agitation, my PH levels are mostly stable. Also I will be changing water every 5 days. Right now the tank just started up so I am doing daily 10%~20% water changes for 1 week.

Oh and the best analogy I have for KH is - See KH as a Wall (Buffer), without that Wall (Buffer) the PH fluctuations will/has a chance to punch thru the wall.

Hope that helps.