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Re: Raise the KH without raising the pH?
- To: <Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com>
- Subject: Re: Raise the KH without raising the pH?
- From: Thomas Barr <tcbiii at earthlink_net>
- Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002 13:39:41 -0800
- In-Reply-To: <200201200848.g0K8m5Q20334 at actwin_com>
- User-Agent: Microsoft-Outlook-Express-Macintosh-Edition/5.02.2022
> I've searched through the archives and have read the chemistry behind the
> pH/KH relationship. My RO water is 6.8 pH but only 1 degree of KH. I want to
> raise the KH to about 5 but don't want the rise in pH. (I know the laws of
> Chemistry go against this) I do operate a yeast CO2 bottle but since it is
> not efficient and CO2 production does vary I don't want to depend on it for a
> lower pH.
> (I would love to move into at least the decade of the 1980s and buy
> a cylinder and regulator but a lack of funds [and a wife] prevent me from
> doing this.) Is there anything I can do to raise the buffering capacity
> without impacting the pH or depending on the CO2 to lower the pH?
Not really, at least in a planted tank and what you are trying to do here.
If you want to do this, get a cylinder. 150$ or so for everything if you
look around. Why don't you sell the RO then and use the $ to buy a CO2 gas
system? Got the money for that.........you can sell something on ebay (how
about plants?) also.
That's your deal on the $ issue.
I've used DIY for many years and rationalized, made excuses, blamed
others...I almost sounded like a smoker trying to quit:) Anything to not get
the Gas tank. Rather than saying I do not have the funds......I say "I'm too
cheap"....."I cannot save my money"...etc. May as well be honest with
myself.......
Do yourself a favor, save 10$ a week(from all the plant sales), put it in
your fish cabinet etc. Then buy it. It's worth every penny and is cheaper in
the long run.
There's a guy in our club selling his regulator right now that would give
you a deal. A tank and diffusion method and you'd be set.
Add baking soda or use tap water(provided it has enough KH) to get the KH to
5 and drop the pH down to 6.8 using the gas. This is _the_ simplest method.
Is there some reason your using RO? Only a tiny fraction of folks should
even consider RO for their taps. High Na or Cu are the only cases or perhaps
fish breeding etc. Plants do fine at high KH/GH's, it is the CO2 they want.
I have a RO but I use it for drinking water, plants/fish get tap. Taste
great.
Regards,
Tom Barr -ex DIY user, never used the patch, went cold turkey.