Kh ?

[Lou.M]

As a matter of interest i tested my Aquarium water it has a KH of 3
then i tested my tap water and its has a KH reading of ZERO has anyone have any idea to how this can be ?

[LizStreithorst]

What decorations do you have in your tank. There must be something releasing carbonates.

[Lou.M]

its a planted tank
i have cremaic rings in the sump
besides plants gravel sand nothing else really !!

[Lou.M]

driftwood !!!

[brewmaster15]

most likely..

gravel sand

Driftwood actually consumes KH as it acidifies the water.

hth,
Al

[Lou.M]

the gravel Sand is actualy Pool filter sand would that have the same effect ??

[danotaylor]

Pool filter sand is usually inert, which means it doesn't break down...which is why discus people choose it...do you fertilize your plants?

[brewmaster15]

Pool filter sand can still be an issue depending on the kind..
You can test it easy enough. Scoup some into a glass jar.. rinse with tap until no kH.. fill jar and let sit.test kH a few days latter. ..


or the quick test.. rinse the sand as above. Pour off excess water, add vinegar slowly... if it bubbles or foams, the sand is likely the culprit.

You mentioned "gravel" sand. Whats the gravel component?

[danotaylor]

good point Brew...the vinegar test is easy as well!

[Lou.M]

Maybe we got lost somewhere in translation isnt a KH of 2 better then Zero ???

more to my pooint everytime i do a water change that will drop my KH because my tap water has a zero reading of KH

so i was wondering where it was coming from ???

[danotaylor]

performing Brew's suggested test will at least show you if your sand gravel is the source of your KH rise after you WC with KH 0 water...if your sand is inert, it has to be something else...at such a low number though, I would not worry about it TBH

[Lou.M]

Knowing the source is a good thing, appreciate the advise Thanks Brew and Daniel !!

is this a common thing ?

sorry im only a beginner, im seeing all these strange things in my aquarium and trying to learn as i go along..... i just put three discus in my tank four days ago for the first time
seems like i have 1 female and 2 males the female looks to have chosen a partner but the other male (smaller) seems to getting in the middle and winning BTW, i think the other male is a bit timid lol

[bluelagoon]

Just curious here.What is the ph of the tap water and tank?

[brewmaster15]

Knowing the source is a good thing, appreciate the advise Thanks Brew and Daniel !!

is this a common thing ?

sorry im only a beginner, im seeing all these strange things in my aquarium and trying to learn as i go along..... i just put three discus in my tank four days ago for the first time
seems like i have 1 female and 2 males the female looks to have chosen a partner but the other male (smaller) seems to getting in the middle and winning BTW, i think the other male is a bit timid lol

Lou,
Its good to know your kH but not something to obsess about if you do regular water changes ... If your water has 0 KH its going to drift down or crash from the tanks biological cycle and in your case the driftwood if you don't do frequent water changes. I have a KH of less than 1 here in my well water and crashes can happen if I am not carefull in my heavily stocked tanks.In those tanks I do bump up the KH with crushed coral or oyster shells in a nylon stocking which is placed in the filter.

Most discus keepers here do so much water changing that low KH doesnt matter. However, I have no clue how that will affect your plants...thats a whole other issue.

al

[Lou.M]

Hi Mervin,
The tap Ph is 7.2 and tank fluctuates between 7.2 and 6.5 its caused from the C02 injection is what i'm lead to believe.