Strange deficiency and gH,kH readings

[Ptahkeem]

I recently tested my tap water vs. my tank water and came up with these results.
tap
gH 15degrees
kH 6degrees
tank
gH 20degrees
kH 6degrees
I tested each source of water twice and came up with the same results both times. I have verified that the tap water readings are correct as I have information from my local water authorities. Can anyone give me an explanation as to why my tank water gH is higher than my tap water? I dont dose anything to alter my pH or anything of that sort. I dose Seachems line of Fluorish, Fluorish Iron, Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus.
On a side note Ive been having problems with my stargrass and other plants. The stargrass' new growth is white in color and the leaves are wrinkled and other plants have started to produce wrinkly leaves. Im so confused as to whats going on.
Here is my dosing regimen:
3 times a week
7ppm of Nitrogen, 1ppm of Phosphorus, 10ppm of Potassium, 5ml of Fluorish
everyday
2ml of Fluorish Iron
I also do 50 percent water changes weekly and only have slight problems with spot algae. Whats going on?

[PeterGwee]

Up your flourish dosage to 10-15ml while maintaining the rest of the nutrients in good shape. Wait for at least 3-4 weeks to see the response of the plants. Meanwhile, just prune away the dead looking leaves.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Ptahkeem]

hey Peter
would you have any idea as to why my gH would go up? The tap I tested was at 15degrees and the tank water was at 20 degrees. The strange thing is that I did a 50 percent water change yesterday and the water I guess has somehow gotten harder in the last day. Also, when I dose Iron and fluorish my water gets kinda cloudy. Im thinking it may either be that the iron is precipitating out of solution or it could be that there is a bacterial bloom from my fluorish dosing since I dont refridgerate my fluorish trace. What do you think Peter?

[ckll]

Hi ptahkeem, gH is total hardness which includes carbonates and non-carbonates. I'm guessing that ther could be some non-carbonate stuff that's dissolving in the tank that giving the 5dH increase.

kH 6 .. cool! That's pretty good buffer to prevent pH crash

[Ptahkeem]

a good buffer? really? haha i have no idea what kH means actually. i kinda know what gH is and what not but i still dont understand how my gH could rise so much. could it be because im dosing so much micronutrients?

[bclee]

GH has absolutely no relationship to KH.

GH is the measure of Mg++ and Ca++ in the water.

KH is the measure of carbonates (CO3) and bicarbonates (HCO3) in the water.

GH could be coming from the gravel or rocks or even filter media that may have some contents of Mg or Ca.

BC

[Ptahkeem]

Hi bclee
Actually I dont have anything that I think could add Ca or Mg to the water column. For substrate I am using eco complete and for filter material I just use foam that is for my aquaclear filter. I do add a pretty high amount of Seachem Fluorish but I dont think that would really do much. I add 5ml of fluorish 3 times a week. Do you think that could be the culprit?

[vinz]

ptahkeem,

Stop dosing K and see if the plants improve over the next 2 to 3 weeks. By the way, size of your tank?

[Ptahkeem]

Hi Vinz
my tank size is a 20 gallon. Ive been reading up on other forums about how dosing iron is a must for very high light tanks. My tank has about 80 watts over it and I did notice an improvement in my plants as soon as I started dosing more iron. I will continue dosing more iron and see if that improves my plants conditions. This still however does not explain why my gH went up 5 degrees. Strange isnt it?