Hello all

Is there any other way to raise the KH besides using Baking Soda? One that will not affect PH? I have a Excel tank that has a PH of 8.1 and adding NaHCO3 will make my ph even higher? KH in said tank is 3 and GH is 12. Tap water has PH of 8.0 and KH of 4 and GH of 5. I already use GH booster so what are my options for KH without raising PH even higher?? or does a PH this high matter??


Excel is dosed per bottle 1 ML per 10 gal every day and more on WC day. WC is once a month and running 1/3 of EI and TMG for traces.

Thanks Chris


30 gal
2w CF
inert substrate
1/3 of EI (KNO3, PO4) per week
Traces 5 ML TMG 2x week
1/8 tsp gh bootser after WC

Why raise the KH? 3 is a good KH. You can lower the pH with peat, but it makes the water a bit yellow. With virtually no CO2 in the water the pH is going to be high unless some tannins or humic acid are lowering it.

Hi Vaughn,

ok the KH is good. What about the PH at 8.0? leave it alone? Do the plants care?
Peat will introduce tannins. Will that will affect PH and KH readings?

I also have a non co2-non Excel tank which has a dusting of peat in the sub and yes it has yellow water. KH reads >1. Are tannins interfering with KH reading(tritration method) If so then what?

I have searched Tannins in the forums. Sounds like there is interference. Mabey AC will help but isn't the yellowing supposed to go away after awhile? Then is that the end of the acidic affects?

I thought that KH should be watched- or a I making to much of this

Chris

I'd not worry about it, it should be light dependent(pH).

You should measure a mid to low pH right before the lights come on and higher late in the day cycle.

Plants remove the CO2 first.
Then Excel, then KH last.

You have the same amount of buffer(KH), but the acid, the CO2 is removed and then is slowly added back at night when plants do not use it.
So the pH shoots up during the day and returned to lower levels at night.

If you do not use CO2, then do not bother worrying about the pH/KH.
There's little you can do other than add CO2, as that is all that relationship is really used for in our case here(We add CO2 to grow the plants better).


Regards,
Tom Barr