[Ashly Scott]

My tap tests out at GH 1 and KH 15. My newly setup tank (1 week) tests out at GH 5 and KH 15.

First, I believe the GH increase is due to light dosing of Flourish (addition of Ca and Mg = increased in GH)...do you buy that?

Second, I am concerned that my CO2 levels are not where they should be. BTW...My tank PH is 7.4-7.6. I am debating the thought of gradually adding RO or distilled water to the tank via weekly water changes in some type of ratio of tap to RO/distilled. Good idea or bad idea? How gradual? Is there a need to add additional trace elements (other than Flourish) when supplementing with RO or distilled?

I hope I am allowed more than one question per post!

Thanks.

 

[Overfloater]

My tap tests out at GH 1 and KH 15. My newly setup tank (1 week) tests out at GH 5 and KH 15.

First, I believe the GH increase is due to light dosing of Flourish (addition of Ca and Mg = increased in GH)...do you buy that?

Second, I am concerned that my CO2 levels are not where they should be. BTW...My tank PH is 7.4-7.6. I am debating the thought of gradually adding RO or distilled water to the tank via weekly water changes in some type of ratio of tap to RO/distilled. Good idea or bad idea? How gradual? Is there a need to add additional trace elements (other than Flourish) when supplementing with RO or distilled?

I hope I am allowed more than one question per post!

Thanks.

Never too many questions.

Firstly Flourish will not raise GH so you can scratch that off the list. ItT may be your substrate or rocks if you have any in the tank.

Why do you think you need to add RO water to the tank? Your gH is fine and the kH is a bit high (I'm in a similar situation) but will grow most plants.

 

[litesky]

No need to go in to RO or distilled! Your water should be fine with plant growth.

A simple way to check if you have good co2 levels is to see how well your plants pearl by the end of the day. If you have just set up your tank, wait for a few more days. By the 5th or 6th day, the plants should've adjusted to the environment and if CO2 levels are good, your plants should be pearling. As long as they are pearling, you.....shhhhhoooooooouuuulllld have enough CO2.

 

[Ashly Scott]

I am getting some pearling...bubbles on the underneath side of the java fern leaves. Also, an occasional bubble from the glosso. The pearling is not radical like I have seen in some pictures, but at least it is doing something.

When I reference the CO2 (cross index between pH and KH) it figures out to approx. 11ppm. With "ideal" being somewhere between 20-30ppm it appears that I have some room to grow. Are you saying cost/benefit? The trouble associated with mixing in a little RO or distilled will not provide much benefit?

 

[Overfloater]

I am getting some pearling...bubbles on the underneath side of the java fern leaves. Also, an occasional bubble from the glosso. The pearling is not radical like I have seen in some pictures, but at least it is doing something.

When I reference the CO2 (cross index between pH and KH) it figures out to approx. 11ppm. With "ideal" being somewhere between 20-30ppm it appears that I have some room to grow. Are you saying cost/benefit? The trouble associated with mixing in a little RO or distilled will not provide much benefit?

It willl be fine however it's not necessary. How are you providing CO2?

If you want to cut the tap water with RO, it will be fine. It will allow you to grow some of the more finicky species but as mentioned it's not required.

 

[Ashly Scott]

Thanks for the additional input. I am providing CO2 via the DIY method.

 

[Overfloater]

How much light do you have and what size is the tank?

It might be tough to get enough CO2 via the yeast method in water as hard as you've got. Your target pH is 7.0. Unless you can get it that low you are not providing enough CO2.

 

[Ashly Scott]

It is a 10g tank with a 36w compact flouresent.

The tank is a week old. I did my first water change (50%) this evening. I ended up using just my tap this time, but I was close to adding a gallon of distilled.