Dave B

Yea, I suppose I'm getting too worked up about what I think the right numbers should be. Besides trying to figure out fertilizer amounts my tank seems to be doing pretty well. There isn't much surface agitation and who knows how accurate the A.P. tests are. The PH spike is what makes me feel like things are unstable. I'm going to add less baking soda to prevent the spike and keep the KH down around 4˚, then I suppose the Ph will drop down also.
Thank you all for the advise.

Pigheaddd

hey Dave,

whats your tap water pH? its about 7.4 in my area. honestly, i never test my kH etc, but i do test my pH once a week. my 20g tank with 130w pc 10hr/day, co2 with 2 bubbles/sec/24hr. pH is about 6.6~6.8.

my 5.5g tank is weird tho. 48w pc 9hr/day, co2 with 1 bubbles/sec/24hr. pH is 6.0 or even lower. my test kit only can test from 6.0 to 7.8 something like that, but im pretty sure kH is low. water is very soft. hehehe i judge kH by Tonina sp. it can survive and has new stems come out.

my 2.5g tank just set it up as my connection tank yesterday for short term. 26w pc 8hr/day(haven't turn on lights yet), co2 with 1 bubble/2sec. pH was as 5.5g around 6.0 or lower.

i think pH does matter with how well co2 dissolves in the water.

Tim

hubbahubbahehe

yo pighead you got pics of your tanks? on paper they sound terrific

Pigheaddd

dude... sure... i'll take some pix of 2.5g when i have time. 5.5g needs a month or so... ... 20g pix will update soon. sigh! you guys probably in sweet home at this moment. i'm still in the school library now. three exams/ couple essays due next week.

Tim