I re-entered the aquarium hobby after a 30 yr absence and was hoping to do Angels and Discus like I had done in the past. My problem was water. I could not get the PH to stabilize low enough. Now I am thinking about shrimp and other than the RCS which are doing quite well I have the same problem again with the water. Even my Bettas wont tolerate my tap water and I have to buy RO water for them.
Let me start with what I have out of the tap
PH 7.6 +/-
GH <20ppm
KH +/- 100ppm
All Ammonia 0
I have a TDS meter but will have to find it
The KH seems to be my problem. I have tried buffers and the PH just keeps bouncing back. I set up a 10g with AZOO substrate over peat moss. It took 5-6 days but PH went down to 6.8. I could not do water changes because it would throw PH off and after 2-3 months all buffering was lost and PH returned to mid 7s.
What I do not understand is how my GH can be so low yet KH be so high.
Let me start with what I have out of the tap
PH 7.6 +/-
GH <20ppm
KH +/- 100ppm
All Ammonia 0
I have a TDS meter but will have to find it
The KH seems to be my problem. I have tried buffers and the PH just keeps bouncing back. I set up a 10g with AZOO substrate over peat moss. It took 5-6 days but PH went down to 6.8. I could not do water changes because it would throw PH off and after 2-3 months all buffering was lost and PH returned to mid 7s.
What I do not understand is how my GH can be so low yet KH be so high.