I have used both, baking soda - sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate, and at the time was going for 3 KH. Did not notice any difference in plant growth. Once I ran out of potassium bicarbonate I switched back to baking soda. I now go for a 1KH in all my tanks and use an inert substrate "BDBS".Hello, i use rain water and i want to increase the KH to 2, can i use baking soda which is NahCO3 i think to increase dKH ? is it safe for plants ? thx
If your running your water through a softener using NaCl then 94 ppm is about what to expect depending on the ion exchange rate. For straight city water 94 ppm would be far above EPA levels. Before using RODI water I switched over to KCl in our softener which only spikes the Potassium levels and it's slightly more costly. We still use KCl but, I run it through the RODI unit.Before I went to RO I used my tap water "aka liquid rock" with 94ppm of sodium
No you are incorrect. My water is not softened and the tap water has 94ppm sodium. According to the water authority sodium is a " not regulated" substance.If your running your water through a softener using NaCl then 94 ppm is about what to expect depending on the ion exchange rate. For straight city water 94 ppm would be far above EPA levels. Before using RODI water I switched over to KCl in our softener which only spikes the Potassium levels and it's slightly more costly. We still use KCl but, I run it through the RODI unit.
Cheers,
Michael
Would you kindly name some species? I've been planning to test sodium tolerance of various aquatic plants, and a possible effect on K,Mg,Ca uptake, but more urgent issues make me postpone it over and over.I used my tap water "aka liquid rock" with 94ppm of sodium and still was able to grow almost everything.
Well, thats because you assumed I meant legal as opposed to recommended ... Sodium is not regulated, but 94 ppm is definitely far above the recommend levels. And 94 ppm would certainly be 10-40 times above the levels you will find at natural habitats for most of our plants and fishes. 2-4 ppm is not uncommon in the Amazon basin - some areas (such as the Jurua river) as much as 10 ppm.No you are incorrect.
Bacopa -Carolinana,Colorata, and monnieri. Vallisneria Spiralis "Leopard". Nymphoides Aquatica. Staurgyne Repens. Anubias Nana. Heteranthera Zosterifolia. Ludwigia Super Red, Rubin. Myriophyllum Rorima. All grew very well for me. The rotala everything and altermanthera everything did not grow well or as well as I would of liked.Would you kindly name some species? I've been planning to test sodium tolerance of various aquatic plants, and a possible effect on K,Mg,Ca uptake, but more urgent issues make me postpone it over and over.
Seems strange that someone would suggest an outlandish situation where plants can grow and people doubt it.Before I went to RO I used my tap water "aka liquid rock" with 94ppm of sodium and still was able to grow almost everything.
Well, thats because you assumed I meant legal as opposed to recommended ... Sodium is not regulated, but 94 ppm is definitely far above the recommend levels. And 94 ppm would certainly be 10-40 times above the levels you will find at natural habitats for most of our plants and fishes. 2-4 ppm is not uncommon in the Amazon basin - some areas (such as the Jurua river) as much as 10 ppm.
As @_Maq_ points out, it would be interesting to know what specific plants - among the almost everything - you have been able to grow at 94 ppm of Sodium.
Cheers,
Michael
Well my response was accurate to what you posted. " For straight city water 94 ppm would be far above EPA levels." You said nothing about recommended levels. The water report is for my area in Southern California but if you look a water reports from Los Angeles to San Diego it is consistent with my area. Millions of people use this water for aquariums and grow fish and plants just fine.If your running your water through a softener using NaCl then 94 ppm is about what to expect depending on the ion exchange rate. For straight city water 94 ppm would be far above EPA levels. Before using RODI water I switched over to KCl in our softener which only spikes the Potassium levels and it's slightly more costly. We still use KCl but, I run it through the RODI unit.
Cheers,
Michael
That seems a bit of an excessive number, but yes I am pretty sure many people that have tanks use tap water. In fact, having some sodium is a good thing for certain fresh water fish. Here in Thailand some add Na to their beta tanks.Millions of people use this water for aquariums and grow fish and plants just fine.
I think this discussion has gone some what astray. I am not promoting the heavy use of sodium. I agree that sodium at higher levels can cause issues. The OP asked if raising his KH to 2 with baking soda was ok for his plants and it is.@RLee2 The fact that you have grown plants in sodium infused waters in your tank does not equate it being a good thing for plants. Sure plants will grow, but to some extent and as you have experienced you had issues with plant species like rotalas and co. Also Your 3dKH of sodium bicarbonate is indeed not that much Na (~24ppm). Here in Bangkok, tap water is at ~22ppm but it can rise dramatically to levels about 1000ppm during the dry season. There doesn't seem to be any recommended higher limit, at least where I am.
At the end of the day it's better if you don't have sodium or very little quantities in the tank since plant can only use it at trace levels. Can they tolerated more to a certain extent, sure, but is it a good thing, no, specially if you have many sensitive plants.
That seems a bit of an excessive number, but yes I am pretty sure many people that have tanks use tap water. In fact, having some sodium is a good thing for certain fresh water fish. Here in Thailand some add Na to their beta tanks.
Damn i wasn't expected that much lol, thx guys =)Simply making a point the same way you did earlier. You are right though, the OP should now have enough info to make an informed decision on what to use.