Seeking Balance : Need Some Advice

CKJ · 02-02-2009, 03:33 AM

Good luck to you and I hope things turn around for you very soon!!

Please keep us posted on how things for for you!

Take care!

Cindy

skoorbza · 02-06-2009, 04:23 AM

A little update: The thing I wanted first (the master test kit) is the one thing that was backordered, so I still don't have that. They said it's shipping tomorrow.
All the new plants I ordered are dead except one.

However! I bumped the light (in hopes of saving the new plants from the freezies), did a good water change (5 gal), and added excel. I'm pretty sure it's just my perception (the brighter light helps), but the tank seems happier already. There are some baby ramshorns that came in with the plants and they aren't dead, the fish are playful without being frantic, I even saw the tiniest blush of pink on the tips of a sunset hygro.

Mostly in my head, but I am moving forward with energy that says "the worst is over!" and "planted thanks are fun!". Here's hoping the course continues positively!

skoorbza · 02-08-2009, 05:11 AM

I got my GH & KH kits. I followed the directions exactly, but the numbers were off the charts!! I'm using the API liquid kits, and it took 14 drops for KH, and 24 for GH. Could this be what's causing my livestock troubles???

**Hoppy** · 02-08-2009, 05:41 AM

It seems that your river gravel is limestone, calcium carbonate. That slowly dissolves into the water raisin both the KH and GH. Really excessive KH might harm the fish, but I don't think GH will. Yours is definitely getting too high.

skoorbza · 02-09-2009, 03:24 AM

Thanks for the reply, Hoppy. I tested the gravel before I put it in, and didn't see fizz...

After reading your message, I tested my tap water. Same exact results as the tank water: off the chart at Kh=14 drops, Gh=24 drops.

R/O isn't an option right now, I might be able to do distilled; anyone know if that will help? That seems to be the only way to truly lower hardness, yes?

Homer_Simpson · 02-09-2009, 03:57 AM

Hey skoorbza, there are two things that I believe can help anyone in this hobby. (1) Learning from others with similar issues, and (2) working with the water you have to grow plants rather then trying to mess with the water you have to grow what you cannot. Now, as Hoppy pointed out and I read too high KH rather than GH can be an issue with aquarium plants. The only way to lower KH as far as I know is adding some distilled or reverse osmosis water with water changes. That can be a slippery slop trying to get down pat and can get expensive over the long term.

This is a really interesting article that you may find useful about someone's experience trying to grow aquarium plants in hard water. Some of it contradicts the advise I gave you about lighting, but then again I have no experience trying to grow plants in hard water.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/gi/dy.../planthw.shtml

Just so you don't despair, here is another interesting article about plants and fish that do well in hard water.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWsubwebindex/fwhardness.htm

Edit: If you are really trying to alter your water parameters to favor plant growth, another option is the use of ADA Aquasoil. ADA Aquasoil will alter water parameters to favor plant growth, making it easier to grow plants that would otherwise prove difficult. It is expensive in the short term, does require a lot of patience to wait out the ammonia spikes before fish or shrimp can be safely added and it is not without controversy. Most people who have tried ADA Aquasoil that had less than ideal water parameters to grow plants liked it, but there were some that hated it and found that it gave more problems.

02-02-2009, 03:33 AM	#31 (permalink)
CKJ Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Athens, Il Posts: 395	Good luck to you and I hope things turn around for you very soon!! Please keep us posted on how things for for you! Take care! Cindy __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ight-tank.html

02-08-2009, 05:41 AM	#34 (permalink)
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (22/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 5,686	It seems that your river gravel is limestone, calcium carbonate. That slowly dissolves into the water raisin both the KH and GH. Really excessive KH might harm the fish, but I don't think GH will. Yours is definitely getting too high. __________________ Hoppy

02-09-2009, 03:57 AM	#36 (permalink)
Homer_Simpson Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 1,785	Hey skoorbza, there are two things that I believe can help anyone in this hobby. (1) Learning from others with similar issues, and (2) working with the water you have to grow plants rather then trying to mess with the water you have to grow what you cannot. Now, as Hoppy pointed out and I read too high KH rather than GH can be an issue with aquarium plants. The only way to lower KH as far as I know is adding some distilled or reverse osmosis water with water changes. That can be a slippery slop trying to get down pat and can get expensive over the long term. This is a really interesting article that you may find useful about someone's experience trying to grow aquarium plants in hard water. Some of it contradicts the advise I gave you about lighting, but then again I have no experience trying to grow plants in hard water. http://freshaquarium.about.com/gi/dy.../planthw.shtml Just so you don't despair, here is another interesting article about plants and fish that do well in hard water. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWsubwebindex/fwhardness.htm Edit: If you are really trying to alter your water parameters to favor plant growth, another option is the use of ADA Aquasoil. ADA Aquasoil will alter water parameters to favor plant growth, making it easier to grow plants that would otherwise prove difficult. It is expensive in the short term, does require a lot of patience to wait out the ammonia spikes before fish or shrimp can be safely added and it is not without controversy. Most people who have tried ADA Aquasoil that had less than ideal water parameters to grow plants liked it, but there were some that hated it and found that it gave more problems. __________________ My experience With two very different non-C02, low tech, low maintenance tanks Slide show of my 40 Gallon High Tech Jungle, showing my clear cut victory over Green Dust Algae 3 Gallon ADA Aquasoil II, non-c02, experimental tank Journal Last edited by Homer_Simpson; 02-09-2009 at 03:55 PM.

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02-06-2009, 04:23 AM	#32 (permalink)
skoorbza Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nowhere, NE Posts: 278	A little update: The thing I wanted first (the master test kit) is the one thing that was backordered, so I still don't have that. They said it's shipping tomorrow. All the new plants I ordered are dead except one. However! I bumped the light (in hopes of saving the new plants from the freezies), did a good water change (5 gal), and added excel. I'm pretty sure it's just my perception (the brighter light helps), but the tank seems happier already. There are some baby ramshorns that came in with the plants and they aren't dead, the fish are playful without being frantic, I even saw the tiniest blush of pink on the tips of a sunset hygro. Mostly in my head, but I am moving forward with energy that says "the worst is over!" and "planted thanks are fun!". Here's hoping the course continues positively!

02-08-2009, 05:11 AM	#33 (permalink)
skoorbza Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nowhere, NE Posts: 278	I got my GH & KH kits. I followed the directions exactly, but the numbers were off the charts!! I'm using the API liquid kits, and it took 14 drops for KH, and 24 for GH. Could this be what's causing my livestock troubles???

02-09-2009, 03:24 AM	#35 (permalink)
skoorbza Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nowhere, NE Posts: 278	Thanks for the reply, Hoppy. I tested the gravel before I put it in, and didn't see fizz... After reading your message, I tested my tap water. Same exact results as the tank water: off the chart at Kh=14 drops, Gh=24 drops. R/O isn't an option right now, I might be able to do distilled; anyone know if that will help? That seems to be the only way to truly lower hardness, yes?

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