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Buffering KH & lowering pH, with no CO2 (yet)
I have not yet had the time to build and install a CO2 generator, but it
is not from a lack of desire. In the meantime, I need to decide how best
to lower the pH while maintaining the KH at around 3 or so. Until very
recently, my tank kept experiencing precipitous drop-offs in pH (7 -> 5
or so) as soon as I made any water changes. I discovered it was most
likely due to a deficiency of CO2 for the plants, and that they had begun
to remove the calcium carbonate from the water to do their photosynthesis
routine. Since I have raised the KH from virtually zero to 3-4 (German
degrees hardness) (using Dupla's KH-generator; I know, waste of money,
but I hadn't yet learned from all of you about baking soda :)), the water
has gone alkaline (around 8 pH). I think David and others have said they
have used vinegar to achieve the drop. That's the only method I've heard
thus far, other than installing a CO2 generator. Are there any other
ways to do this? If not, what is the correct amount per gallon? Is
white wine vinegar good for this? I would assume balsamic vinegar would
be a waste of a fine ingredient.
Thanks for your ideas. Mark.