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Re: [APD] KH with no CO2
Hello Vaughn,
I grow aquarium plants in an aquarium as well as outside in ponds in a very
tropical climate. I have some ponds and aquaria gased with CO2 but many
are not. The water plants get a boost when I keep the KH up around 60 to
80 ppm using potassium bicarbonate which is a little more expensive than
sodium bicarbonate but I think extra potassium is a better thing than extra
sodium in plant water.
The bicarb soda is about $1 a kilo and the Potassium bicarb is about $8 a
kilo but I think worth the extra.
Cheers
Dave
On 15/12/05 6:22 AM, "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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