KH value keep dropping

[Shadow]

Is it normal for KH value keep changing? I was measure using sera KH test kid 2 days ago the result is 4.5 dkH (I'm using 10ml instead of 5ml sample). today i measure again, it drop to 2dKH.

Do I need to keep adding baking soda every 2 days?

[vinz]

No, you shouldn't have to. Normally, KH should only drop after a water change. I'm not a chemically inclined, so I can't tell you what could be happening.

For the benefit of those who can help you:
1. What do you have in the tank? E.g. substrate (type and/or brand), driftwood, rocks (specify type or describe).
2. What are you adding to the tank? E.g. which fertilisers, water conditioners.
3. What media in your filter? Type, brand, or describe.
4. Other measurements, like pH.

If you are keeping track of pH, does it change too, like your KH?

[valice]

Shadow, it is due to your adding of baking soda to your ADA substrate tank... The peat in your ADA soil will continue to reduce your kH level.

I would in fact suggest, you ignore your kH levels totally... Don't worry so much about pH crashes and what not. Unless your system is unstable, it wouldn't crash...

[Shadow]

sorry forgot about the tank spec

Size: 23.5" x 11.5" x 13" = 15.21 G(US)

Lighting: 55W 6hrs/day (3.62 wpg)

Flora: Blyxa Japonica
Taiwan moss on DW
Bacopa caroliniana
Hemianthus micranthemoides
Tonina sp belem
Salvinia Natans
Vallisneria americana
Japanese hair grass

Fauna: Boraras brigittae (10 fishes)
Chery shrinms (Neocaridina denticulata sinensis) 20 pieces - 3 (die) - 4 (die suck by filter) = 13 shrimps

Substrate: ADA Aquasoil Africana

CO2: 1 bps

KH: 4 dKH (try to maintain at this degree)
PH: 7.4

filter: Jebo 325 (1000l/h)
top media: sponge
middle media: bio ball
bottom media: ceramic ring

start cycling: 11 Nov 2006

[Shadow]

Shadow, it is due to your adding of baking soda to your ADA substrate tank... The peat in your ADA soil will continue to reduce your kH level.

I would in fact suggest, you ignore your kH levels totally... Don't worry so much about pH crashes and what not. Unless your system is unstable, it wouldn't crash...

what do you mean by unstable?

My ph was around 5.7 before I add baking soda. It killed 3 of my cherry shrimps, the rest are kind of stoned and the collor become like cooked shrimps. They are back to normal (transparent color and moving around eating) once I add baking soda and pH increase to 7.4.

[Shadow]

almost forgot, there are couples of hydra as well

[valice]

Been nearly a month... So your pH before adding your baking soda should raise slowly to about 6...

Anyway, shrimps will take a much longer time to acclimatise for such low pH level...

Why not try to slowly wean off the baking soda... You shouldn't have any problems...

By mean of unstable meaning a hugh water change of 70% and your filter media is not fully mature...

[Shadow]

Thanks Vincent, will stop dossing baking soda and see what happen. Hope nothing happen.

[Shadow]

After 3 days, my kH drop again to 2dkH from 4 dkH and pH drop to 6.9 from 7.4. I'm trying Valice(Vincent) sugestion, ignore the kH.

[valice]

Yup... Ignore... You ADA soil is working its "magic"...

Btw, why you wanted to increase the kH in the beginning? Just curious...

[Shadow]

kH was previously very low, one drop of test solution to 10ml sample and the color change to yellow. So the kH maybe <1. I read somewhere that <1 kH is dagerous to inhabitant due to pH swing. Also it was mention that ideal kH is around 4-6dkH. Thus, I'm trying to raise it to 4dkH.

[Shadow]

make another pH measurement today, and it was 6.8, hope stay that way.

[Shadow]

Yup... Ignore... You ADA soil is working its "magic"...

Btw, why you wanted to increase the kH in the beginning? Just curious...

Hi Valice, since I ignore the KH, how do I measure the CO2 ppm? Any advice on how many bps needed for 2ftx1ftx1.2ft tank? I'm using DIY external reactor, so far I don't see any CO2 bubble coming out from the rainbar.

[|squee|]

Go by plant health and algae growth. Start with 1bps first, then slowly tweak the knob little by little day by day increase the CO2 until fish show signs of gasping, then tweak it back down to the last setting.

[valice]

I go by the method suggested by squee...

[Shadow]

Go by plant health and algae growth. Start with 1bps first, then slowly tweak the knob little by little day by day increase the CO2 until fish show signs of gasping, then tweak it back down to the last setting.

hmm... My shrimps probably die before the fish gasping
Also I'm not a fish expert, can differentiate fish gasping. Does 30ppm cause fish to gasp?

[wasabi8888]

I have about 120ppm and the fishes are ok...

[|squee|]

Observe the most sensitive creatures in your tank as a guideline. Are you using a reactor or a diffuser?

[Shadow]

using the DIY external reactor, same as the one that you made.

[|squee|]

Adjust the CO2 bps until you get plants bubbling/pearling 2 hours after the CO2 comes on, and at the same time your fish/shrimp aren't stressed by anything.