| Question: | | | | of keeping an adequate KH and Calcium level for |
| One of these days I'm going to write down the | | | | many reasons, one of them is for the problem |
| chemistry for pH, kH and GH and maybe I will | | | | you are having, the other is that GH is simple |
| remember it, eventually. But for now I new some | | | | way of knowing your calcium levels in FW, and |
| advice. I got many good suggestions on my fairly | | | | calcium is very important to fish health. Crushed |
| new mbuna tank and thus far it has been going | | | | coral or aragonite can help, but in my experience |
| very well but something is amiss with my water. | | | | (especially in High ph aquariums such as African |
| My tap water comes out at about 7.6 pH. I have | | | | Cichlid tanks), they are not always adequate as |
| about 30 pounds of holey rock in there currently. | | | | they do not dissolve fast enough to release the |
| But, for some reason my pH seems to be | | | | proper amounts of Bicarbonates, Magnesium, or |
| dropping. Currently it is approaching 7.2 | | | | Calcium for KH and GH. |
| My gH is still pretty high 200 or so, but my kH | | | | In the closed environment that an aquarium is, I |
| has also started dropping from around 120 to | | | | find that outside sources that dissolve or are |
| currently just under 80. Nitrates are between 10 | | | | manually added are often necessary. There are |
| and 20. 0-0 on the bad stuff. I am doing 30-40% | | | | many products available from Sea Chem Marine |
| weekly water changes. I have 16 fishes in a 55 | | | | Buffer which can be used in freshwater (especially |
| gal between 1 1/2 and 3". I may need yet | | | | for Rift Lake Cichlids) and is preferable to baking |
| another reminder about water chemistry or could | | | | soda due to the balance of sodium bicarbonate/ |
| it be my 'mystery' substrate. Along with some | | | | magnesium and other minor elements; to the |
| small tan gravel which I have used in many tanks | | | | Wonder Shells that others here know I advocate |
| with no apparent detriment, I also have maybe 15 | | | | a lot for. |
| # of stuff that was given to me a while back | | | | At the risk of being too commercial, my |
| along with my first cichlids, a little tank etc. I have | | | | aquariums are rarely without a Regular Wonder |
| no idea what it is but she mentioned it was | | | | Shell for Calcium control and electrolytes. |
| "supposed to be good for aquarium plants". It is | | | | As for the plant substrate you were given, this |
| approximately 1/3 each of black, brick red and | | | | sounds like a product such as Eco Complete or |
| tan stone. Though relatively small they are more | | | | Azoo Plant Grower Bed which will lower your pH. |
| like little chips than rounded pebbles - fairly jagged | | | | I have an article about KH, Calcium and |
| and rough on the edges. Then again it may not be | | | | electrolytes: "CALCIUM, KH, AND MAGNESIUM IN |
| this at all. Any ideas? | | | | AQUARIUMS; How to maintain a Proper KH, why |
| Thank you. | | | | calcium and electrolytes are important." |
| Answer: | | | | My point in mentioning GH was that Calcium and |
| There is probably something producing a heavier | | | | Magnesium is part of GH andboth are necessary |
| than normal amount of acid production. Nitrification | | | | for proper osmotic processes in fish. If there are |
| will produce acids (nitric acid) and if you have a | | | | problems with KH, many times there are |
| large amount of organic build up that can be part | | | | problems with GH (although in this case there |
| of your reason. | | | | does not seem to be a problem). The problem |
| What are your filter(s)? Some filters such as large | | | | here indicates too much organic decomposition |
| canister filters can produce a lot of acid if not | | | | thus reducing the KH.. Again I would check filters |
| cleaned (rinsed) regularly. If you have an Under | | | | for build up too. When I called on customers |
| Gravel filter, make sure you occasionally remove | | | | aquariums experiencing this problem, many times |
| the lift tubes and siphon out the mulm that | | | | they had a filter with a thick layer of mulch on |
| accumulates under the plate. With ALL filters it is | | | | the bottom. Removing this, then adding a KH |
| still important to remove as much mulm and | | | | stabilizer (which I had better results with aslow |
| other organic debris as possible, an Aquarium | | | | dissolving KH stabilizer), and the problem was |
| Vacuum is the preferred way. | | | | solved. |
| As for your KH & GH, I am a big proponent | | | | |