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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V4 #699
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 13:44:10 -0700 (MST)
> From: "Roger S. Miller" <rgrmill at rt66_com>
> Subject: [none]
>
> Kevin Schulte wrote:
>
> > My question is that I constantly need to lower the PH and supliment Iron
> > to everything. I have found a soil acidifier that works well for my
garden.
> > It analysis is S - 3.10%, Cu chelated 0.12%, Fe chelated 4.60% and Zn
> > chelated 0.12%. I have previously add very small amount to the tank and
> > imediatly saw a white precipitate. Does anyone know if I could add this
> > on a regular basis without harming my fish.
>
>
> Kevin,
>
> Welcome to the plant hobby! If your 75 gallon tank has been set up for a
> while (say a year or two) then you could very well make growing conditions
> worse by taking it down and building in a "plant friendly" substrate.
> Aged, fine gravel or coarse sand substrates are good for growing plants.
>
> As to the pH problem, first it would be good to know what pH level you're
> shooting for, and why. Plants (and a lot of fish) aren't all that
> sensitive to pH. Plants often grow better at low pH because that implies
> a better CO2 supply, not because they like the pH to be low.
>
> Normally we use CO2 to get the pH down to reasonable levels.
[...]
Hello Roger,
the statement of the last sentence "Normally we use..." is from my point of
view not quite correct. CO2 is used *only* to fertilize the plants by a
certain level, for example 20 mg/l CO2. By this injecting of CO2 you will of
course reduce the pH. But you should *never* use CO2 as a reduction-tool for
pH. If you would reduce the pH too, you should do it with water of lower
hardness. I am sure, this is wellknown to you and it's only a ansuitable
formulation in the sentence.
Best regards, Klaus.