Reaching WP with RO water

[BlueBolts]

Trying to establish a tank with approx WP of PH 7-7.5, GH 8, KH 6 TDS 200,". Using inert gravel.... What's the best approach to achieve and maintain this ? Thanks

[Brado]

there is a seachem product called bullseye I think that targets specific ph ranges, unsure about gh and kh but might be worth a look?

[ineke]

BB my one tank with inert gravel is kept consistantly at or very close to TDS 190 KH 4 GH 7 PH 7.4. I use sponge filters only, I have sword plants and a bit of moss and low lighting. I do a weekly 5-10% water change using RO and Salty shrimp GH/KH, top ups with straight RO. I mix my salts in the bucket with the RO and use enough to make the water EC/TDS about 75-80% of what is in the tank -yes I check each tank individually and mix salts according to that tanks needs. his tank has been steady since first setup in the beginning of January. I have rilis in there that are constantly breeding even though I wish they wouldn't.

Anyway thats how I keep the tank and if I want to alter the KH/GH I just add or take away the salts- add more salts to the bucket or dilute the tank with straight RO. It works well for me and I believe you have the same type of care system so no extra work or additives needed:D

[jayc]

Hmm, Balancing all those parameters will be hard.

Such high KH/GH but relatively neurtral pH.

Have you tried tap water?

At least tap water will boost you up in the KH/GH department. You'd still have to adjust pH to bring it down though with tap water.

But no one has asked "Why?"

Another Area 51 tank?

Or ... wait .... have you got Sulawesi shrimps????

[BlueBolts]

Thanks ALL.....not sulawesi :spank: I'm experimenting to accelerate the breeding of the green balbaulti....not happy with my current breeding rate, so I thought I'd do a specific tank for them to boost their mojo....

With the density/ratio of my shrimps & water volume, I'm constantly fighting to keep my GH & KH at my desired level

[newbreed]

I have found Iwagumi rock usually buffers the PH up, would look great with balbaulti all over it. Also, would the Salty Shrimp GH/KH+ get you the desired parameters? (Just re-read Ineke's post. GH/KH already suggested!)

Oh yeah, Dibs on Baulbaulti, PLEEEEEASE!!! :worthy:

[daz88]

wow just googled that shrimp. Awesome. Iwagumi rock will increase hardness but it would be a trial and error type of thing. I would imagine using specific products for KH and GH may be quicker and more reliable and repeatable.

My new tank (1200 Shallow in photo album) has black Earth premium and yingshi rock, aged tap water. Of course so many different variables to your situation but here is a tank with iwagumi rock in it on a pH reducing soil.

15/3/14

pH -~6.7 (tap 7.6)

kH ~ 5 (tap 1)

gH ~ 12 (tap ?)

TDS - 290 (tap - 137, but a $10 TDS pen)

I imagine the yingshi may be responsible for the increased TDS and the high gH as other tanks without them but having aqua soil stay around TDS - 150. I haven't tested the gH of my tap water but the kH is usually 0 or 1 and ph 7.6. Black Earth brings down the pH etc. The tank gets 2 x 25% water changes a week because it's planted focused (control algae etc)

My nearby fish breeder mate using sodium bicarbonate to increase hardness for his water which also reads at kH - 0 to 1.

I have also heard of "sea chem alkaline regulator" which sets water to pH7.5, but i can't find info on it effects for kH and gH. What about "salty shrimp sulawesi mineral 7.5"?

[manyshrimp]

Hi BB. I have some salty shrimp Sulawesi mineral 7.5 if you want to try some. Will come very close to what you want using RO.

[BlueBolts]

Thanks for the replies, appreciate it :-)

Hi BB. I have some salty shrimp Sulawesi mineral 7.5 if you want to try some. Will come very close to what you want using RO.

Thanks, I've got both the 7.5 & 8.5, but don't think neither raise the GH to the level I want :-(. Looks like I'm resigned to add CaSo4.. Etc, sigh, was hoping there was a miracle stone, salt etc....lol

[ineke]

Wish I could explain why one tank went up to GH 10 then. It took nearly a month of water changes to bring it down.

[daz88]

maybe sulawesi 7.5 and some trial and error with hardness increasing stone like yingshi, seiryu, yuan etc?

Flourite and eco complete are planted gravels that keep ph over 7.5 and kH to around 10, from experience.