KH n PH - Koi Forum - Koi-Bito Magazine

j_iwanto · 03-05-2008

Hey everyone...

I am still new in this hobby and last week I tested my tap water and pond water, both read PH 8.0 and KH 5.0(took 5 drops to turn to yellow) with the sera test kit. I suppose I need to raise my KH, with seashells or oyster shell?

Me a bit confused, but if I raise the KH, wouldn't I raise the PH at the same time, as I would like to lower the PH to about 7.5 if possible. Can the gurus offer me some insight as how I shoudl go bout to achieve this? Thankx.

PS: i woudl like to add carbon active as part of my filtration to help clear the water, would it clash with oyster shell?

moikoi · 03-05-2008

5 drops X 17.9 = 89 KH

HEADACHE6 · 03-06-2008

Another Question :

To increase your kH By using Baking Soda , it will also increase your pH to the low 8's (Not Good) ?

To increase your kH By using Oyster Shell or Crushed Coral , it will increase only your kH & not your pH (Good) ?

Auntiesue · 03-06-2008

That KH is just fine as long as you do regular water changes to replace the bicarbs. What is you GH levels?

j_iwanto · 03-06-2008

Hey,

Thankx for the correction Moikoi...

I would like to lower my ph from 8.0 to about 7.5 if possible. How shoudl I go about that? I am thinking of putting carbon and some water hyacinth to help with the filter prosses. Having water hyacinth and corals would be ok right?

Also, I use to have live rock from my saltwater tank(now it's just plain white, more like dead coral rock I suppose)... will this corals be the same or can be the substitute for oyster shell?

Auntie Sue, I haven't check my Gh level yet... must go buy the test kit for that this weekend, and let u know.

Thanks everyone

gspotmc · 03-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by moikoi

5 drops X 17.9 = 89 KH

What about GH? 14 drops

moikoi · 03-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by gspotmc

What about GH? 14 drops

my calculator doesn't go that high.

KoiCop · 03-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by gspotmc

What about GH? 14 drops

Converting drops (German hardness) to ppm for KH and/or GH works the same: # of drops x 17.9 = ppm

So, 14 drops x 17.9 = 251 ppm

moikoi · 03-06-2008

Don
methink gspotmc was pulling my leg

bekko · 03-06-2008

iwanto, to get your pH down you will have to add a water softener or R.O. unit.

You talk about adding hyacinth to help your filtration. If you are not confident in you filter then you should concentrate on upgrading the filter rather than lowering the pH.

I agree that KH of 89 is probably OK if you do water changes. Adding the coral will not hurt, but you are unlikely to see any effect.

-s te

03-05-2008	#1 (permalink)
j_iwanto Tosai Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 25	KH n PH Hey everyone... I am still new in this hobby and last week I tested my tap water and pond water, both read PH 8.0 and KH 5.0(took 5 drops to turn to yellow) with the sera test kit. I suppose I need to raise my KH, with seashells or oyster shell? Me a bit confused, but if I raise the KH, wouldn't I raise the PH at the same time, as I would like to lower the PH to about 7.5 if possible. Can the gurus offer me some insight as how I shoudl go bout to achieve this? Thankx. PS: i woudl like to add carbon active as part of my filtration to help clear the water, would it clash with oyster shell?

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03-05-2008	#2 (permalink)
moikoi Tategoi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sacto,Ca Posts: 381	5 drops X 17.9 = 89 KH

03-06-2008	#3 (permalink)
HEADACHE6 Tategoi Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 358	Another Question : To increase your kH By using Baking Soda , it will also increase your pH to the low 8's (Not Good) ? To increase your kH By using Oyster Shell or Crushed Coral , it will increase only your kH & not your pH (Good) ?

03-06-2008	#4 (permalink)
Auntiesue Jumbo Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 536	That KH is just fine as long as you do regular water changes to replace the bicarbs. What is you GH levels?

03-06-2008	#5 (permalink)
j_iwanto Tosai Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 25	Hey, Thankx for the correction Moikoi... I would like to lower my ph from 8.0 to about 7.5 if possible. How shoudl I go about that? I am thinking of putting carbon and some water hyacinth to help with the filter prosses. Having water hyacinth and corals would be ok right? Also, I use to have live rock from my saltwater tank(now it's just plain white, more like dead coral rock I suppose)... will this corals be the same or can be the substitute for oyster shell? Auntie Sue, I haven't check my Gh level yet... must go buy the test kit for that this weekend, and let u know. Thanks everyone

03-06-2008	#9 (permalink)
moikoi Tategoi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sacto,Ca Posts: 381	Don methink gspotmc was pulling my leg

03-06-2008	#10 (permalink)
bekko Oyagoi Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hakipu'u Posts: 1,352	iwanto, to get your pH down you will have to add a water softener or R.O. unit. You talk about adding hyacinth to help your filtration. If you are not confident in you filter then you should concentrate on upgrading the filter rather than lowering the pH. I agree that KH of 89 is probably OK if you do water changes. Adding the coral will not hurt, but you are unlikely to see any effect. -s te