Re: [APD] KH with no CO2

["S. Hieber" <shieber at yahoo_com>]

Some plants can take up carbon from carbonates. Also
biological processes in an aquarium produce acids that can
break down carbonates -- usually not a teribly significant
amount over the course of a week.

sh

--- Vaughn Hopkins <hoppycalif at yahoo_com> wrote:

> Thank you Scott, Liz and Dave.  I'm still puzzled by the
> rate at which 
> the KH drops.  Yesterday I added about a half teaspoon of
> baking soda, 
> waited an hour and the KH was about 3 degrees.  This
> morning it was 
> barely 1 degree.  So, I added another half teaspoon of
> baking soda.  I 
> dissolve the baking soda in a little water before adding
> it.  I would 
> swear the plants are consuming the bicarbonate ions. 
> And, the lack of 
> CO2 is starting to catch up with me - a bit of green
> hairlike algae has 
> started on the microswords.  I should have the CO2 going
> in a day or 
> two though.  So, I will plan to remove all the algae I
> see when I do 
> the water change Sunday.  I feel like a mad scientist
> doing all of this 
>   (no, I haven't met Tom Barr!)
> 
> Vaughn H.
> 
> On Wednesday, December 14, 2005, at 03:17 PM, S. Hieber
> wrote:
> 
> > IUf you are doing 50% weekly water changes, you should
> do
> > fine adjusting the KH after/along with the water
> change.
> >
> > Scott H.
> >
> > --- Vaughn Hopkins <hoppycalif at yahoo_com> wrote:
> >
> >> I set up a 29 gallon tank a couple of weeks ago, with
> >> water sprite,
> >> Hygrophilia Difformis, microswords, java moss, java
> fern,
> >> some
> >> ludwigia, etc., but no CO2, because I still haven't
> >> received the bottle
> >> I ordered on ebay.  I have 51 watts of T8 fluorescent
> >> tubes, Fluval 104
> >> filter using a spray bar at one end and an extended
> inlet
> >> at the other
> >> end.  The plants are mostly growing now, very slowly,
> but
> >> growing.  I
> >> have been fertilizing using Gregg's chemicals,
> somewhat
> >> less than if I
> >> had CO2.  And, I changed 50% of the water after a
> week.
> >> Today I got a
> >> KH test kit.  The water is less than 1 degree KH
> >> hardness, but 13
> >> degrees GH.  So, I checked the tap water for KH and it
> is
> >> 3 degrees.
> >>
> >> Now, my question is:  are the plants growing by
> utilizing
> >> carbonates
> >> for their carbon, thus depleting it?  And, when I add
> CO2
> >> will that
> >> depletion continue, or will the plants just use the
> CO2?
> >> I am trying
> >> to slowly bring the tank water to at least 4 degrees
> KH
> >> hardness before
> >> I get the CO2 going.
> >>
> >> Next question:  Assuming the plants will deplete
> >> carbonates, what kind
> >> of schedule of baking soda addition would be
> appropriate?
> >>  I tried
> >> looking this up, but am just too lazy to stick to it.
> >>
> >> Oh, and I just moved in 6 cory cats and 6 silver tip
> >> tetras - they will
> >> have open  house next week and everyone is invited!
> >>
> >> Vaughn H.
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo/aquatic-plants
> >>
> >
> >
> > * * * * * * * * * * *
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> Aquascaping 
> > Contest are on display:
> >
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> >
> >
> > In service to the community, the AGA has opened forums:
> >
> > http://forum.aquatic-gardeners.org/
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> >
> 
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* * * * * * * * * * *
All the other terrific entries in the 6th Annual AGA Aquascaping Contest are on display:

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org


In service to the community, the AGA has opened forums:

http://forum.aquatic-gardeners.org/
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