Kh... How critical in a fish & softy tank?

[eskimoigloo]

Ok, added to my list of test kits today with a Kh kit (thought I had better test for something else now I am getting a few corals). How critical is Kh in a fish and softy tank... I ask because my reading was 7, and my books say try and get it between 9-12. They also give 2 good reasons (relevant in my case) as to why it may be low. 1 is that my tank is opposite a window and getting sunlight, which apparently can lower Kh due to CO2??? and that my nitrates are slightly high and that the nitrification process also uses up your Kh. (but the de-nitrification process raises it)
Everything in the tank looks nice and healthy, I just wonder if the more things I get right whether it will look even better. :D

As usual, all help appreciated!

Chris.

[Kev]

In my opinion and experience, I would not bother doing this test with a softie tank. I don't think its that critical. I don't measure this. Whats more important to me is undertaking regular partial water changes, in respect of softies, this will give you all the balance you will need.

Have a look at the link below, and just check on the health of my softies, and make your mind up at the end of the day.:D

[eskimoigloo]

I would think it would matter from a point of being a Ph buffer... but other than that I was thinking along the same lines as you ;) The reason I started testing for it was 2 fold 1) My Ph swings quite a bit, sometimes as low as 7.9 and up to 8.2, 2) I started adding aragamilk in my top up water (on recommendation from Marine Tech) and wanted to make sure I wasn't overdosing on calcium causing my Kh to drop.

Chris.

[Kev]

No problem Chris. You do whats right for you / your system. I work on my experiences, and can only say that I am better off in the pocket and my inverts look very very healthy.:D

Kev

[Macca]

Use baking soda to raise your alk. Do it slowly and measure your kh / ph regularly.

James

[eskimoigloo]

Just had a calc reading done today, and that's at 275... so that's low as well. The only additive i put in my tank is 1 drip of aragamilk per 1 gallon of top up water. I do fairly regular water changes, and wouldn't have thought i had anything in my tank to use up the calc and Kh??? I am confused! I am using Instant Ocean salt, and always have. I don't have a lot of corraline growth, and never have either, so this would suggest that my calc and Kh have always been low maybe? I don't know if the aragamilk is any good? or if i should be dosing higher (already dosing higher than the bottle says), or whether I should be using anything else?

Cheers, Chris.

[Dons1903]

What kind of salt do you use?

You might want to change to a salt that has a higher Ca level!

[Kev]

Hi Chris

I use reef crystals. I must admit, coralline is a pain in my tank it grows that rapidly.

Kev

[eskimoigloo]

Is that the seachem one Kev? Currently using the last dregs of an instant ocean bucket, so due to buy some more, but was looking at maybe changing to see if anything was any better.

Chris.

[Kev]

Yup. Thats the one.

[brian waller]

Hi Chris,I think you have a touch of THE NEW REEFER SYDRONE,when somebody tells you one thing,you try yo do that,but it alters something else.read all the books you can ,listern to what people say but store the information.If everything in your tank is healthy,leave the test kits in the cupboard till you see something going wrong.If you look at my photos off my tank,i have not tested my water for months.I do a 80ltrs water change every 4 wks using a good salt,[i use TMC pro-reef salt only.]I donot use additives, only iodine 3 drops per day.So relaxe and enjoy your tank.


brian

[Reefer]

Well said Brian, its a bit dont fix it if it aint broke really.

[Chris, Reef Ranch]

Hi All,

Back for a while now. I must apologise for my absence, but looking after 1000 animals with 2 members of staff can be a little fraught. Additionally we have been installing our new coral import and growing facility. Soon we will be offering Reef Ranch grown coral on line!

dKH- there are a number of opinions on this, but looks at it this way. Corals have evolved for many thousands of years to suit the conditions that they encounter in the wild. Natural levels of kH and trace elements are obviously beneficial to all corals. As I understand it, the carbonate element of hardness provides a source of carbon dioxide to the zooxanthellae which facilitates the efficient passing-on of energy to the coral animal.

In précis- Natural water chemistry for your corals is advisable because this is what they are used to.

Chris

[Kev]

Yes, but how critical in a fish and softy tank is the question asked.:D

[eskimoigloo]

Whether it's critical or not, I have solved the low readings, and am slowly working towards improving them. I had to remove about 10 gallons of my water from mt tank a couple of weeks ago, but kept it instead of throwing it away. I was then using this to do my water changes (what was I thinking :rolleyes: ) when i tested this water the Kh was 6, and Calc was embarrasing!.

So using fresh salt for all changes now, with 5% water changes a week, I think I should be back to an acceptable level in a month or 2! :)
Mushrooms and Zoo's have defo picked up after the last 2 water changes... so it does make a difference in a softy tank!

[Kev]

Good stuff. If its working for you, then thats what its all about. I would not question this, other than to say I have never bothered, and this works formy tank.:D

It is pleasing that you are getting the improvements you want.