KH powder

[ozone]

Hello,

I bought some kh powder from the lfs and it works well! I'm a bit worried that I'm just buying sodium Bi carbonate though.Can the Sodium Bicarbonate be used as kh powder? Very soft tap water where I live so to stop ph crash I need to add something.:)

[Sean Buehrle]

How long are you aging your water.

What's your ph out of tap and after it ages.

[Chad Hughes]

All I ever use to increase KH is sodium bicarbonate. :D

[ericatdallas]

I bet it's just baking soda. There are other things, but they're more expensive. If you're really dead set against using sodium bicarbonate, I think calcium carbonate (antacid) powder should work too (but much more expensive).

[ozone]

ph 7.5 out the tap.kh 1 dkh, gh 20ppm.I'm just cycling the tank now. Normally I fill my water change water tank the night b4 Add dechlorinator and a bit of seachem acid buffer and bring up the kh with the unknown powder(I think it's baking soda) and put a heater in the water change container to bring the heat up a bit. then the next night do a waterchange! If I'm buying sodium Bicabonate for 10 bucks I feel like a fool as you can get it from the supermarket for much cheaper!lol:)

[ozone]

ph after I age the water is 6.5 as I add acid to bring it down a bit

[Eddie]

If you are cycling the filters, why add the acid to adjust the PH down? It will cycle faster with the higher PH.

[ozone]

Thanks for the input eddie, guess I just learnt a new thing!!didn't know that tanks age quicker with a higher ph.the reason I brought it down was to get used to the fluctuations and learn how much kh and that it needs to stay at a steady 6.5 no surprises! thankyou for the reply. Alan :)

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Alan, you will find that once your tank is stable it's ph will be lower then your tap. Sounds like your buffering capability (kh) might need some help.