• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

Search results for query: *

  1. dw1305

    Water Reports - the Basics, as I am not getting the math!

    Hi all, "Yes and no" is the answer, they are separate entities, but you can define both "1 dGH" and "1 dKH" as 17.86 mg / L of CaCO3. <"The calculations"> are all in Larry Frank's very useful post on the Krib <"Water Hardness">. cheers Darrel
  2. dw1305

    Water filter questions

    Hi all, You are right, they don't make your water any softer or less alkaline - <"Some handy facts about water">. <"It doesn't">, although <"it might in the future"> as part of the <"Brexit Bonus">. It was EU regulation that forced <"UK water companies"> to clean up their act. Could you...
  3. dw1305

    Water repot

    Hi all, Because it doesn't list calcium (Ca) or magnesium (Mg) on the report, you don't know what their relative proportions are. Normally you could assume that nearly all the dGH was from calcium, but because of where you live we can't, for geological reasons. Because you have reasonable...
  4. dw1305

    Water repot

    Hi all, That is a particularly non-informative water report. The only bits of any value to use are: and I'll add a bit more later this evening. cheers Darrel
  5. dw1305

    Serial Dilution help please. TDS Pen.

    Hi all, I've got to say I'm firmly in the DI water camp for this one, it just means you know you start from a known low datum. That is the really important bit for me, the <"plug and play"> nature of conductivity meters and the linear relationship of <"dissolved ions to conductivity">. You...
  6. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, There we are, that is definitely a "more nuanced view". cheers Darrel
  7. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, I'm not entirely sure, I'm going to guess it would be somewhere in that range. The 100 mMol value is far beyond the amount of CO2 people inject. The workings. that go back and forth from moles to ppm (mg / L) are in the <"Coca-cola thread">. I'm not sure that pH measurements are...
  8. dw1305

    Remineralising RO water with waste water

    Hi all, I'd be really wary of chloramine in the water supply around <"new developments">. cheers Darrel
  9. dw1305

    Serial Dilution help please. TDS Pen.

    Hi all, You can equate volume and wt. for dilute solutions. Personally <"I'd weigh out 10 g of NaCl">, make that up to 1000 mL (1 kg) with RO water ("stock solution"), take 100 mL of that stock solution make that up to 1000 mL and use <"that as my calibration solution">. Once I've used the...
  10. dw1305

    Alkaline/Hard water used for water change into acidic/soft water aquarium

    Hi all, There doesn't seem to be much specific scientific research on ornamental fish. This was as good as I could find <"http://www.bioflux.com.ro/docs/2016.574-579.pdf"> "Mousavi, S.M., Rezaie, A., Ahmadmoradi, E. and Mohammadi, F., (2016). "Histopathology of nephrocalcinosis in some...
  11. dw1305

    Alkaline/Hard water used for water change into acidic/soft water aquarium

    Hi all, I think the issue is <"nephrocalcinosis">. There are scientific papers on salmonids etc. cheers Darrel
  12. dw1305

    Water Conditioners

    Hi all, It does, but depending on the degree of planting, the amount of dissolved oxygen and the volume of the water change. This should be less of a problem in a heavily planted tank, mainly because the plants are going to mop <"up the TAN ammonia (NH3/NH4+)"> pretty quickly. It is only...
  13. dw1305

    Alkaline/Hard water used for water change into acidic/soft water aquarium

    Hi all, I like <"inferential techniques">, they don't seem as "scientific" as water testing, but they are equally valid. Because you have datum values for sea water (and sea water is both uniform and really salty) it actually makes testing somewhat more straight forward. It is also a much more...
  14. dw1305

    Alkaline/Hard water used for water change into acidic/soft water aquarium

    Hi all, It will be about pH 8 and 18 dGH and 18dKH for geographical reasons, there is a water hardness map in <"Some handy facts about water"> . Yes "it depends", just because it is "ion exchange" and that means there are a number of variables, but as @hypnogogia says hard alkaline water will...
  15. dw1305

    TDS pen recommendations

    Hi all, Use <"serial dilution">, it takes away the need to very accurately measure small weights or volumes. The calculation is here: <"A simple continuous and fail-safe water-change system">. cheers Darrel
  16. dw1305

    TDS pen recommendations

    Hi all, That is it, but conductivity, not PPM TDS. You can only measure the Total Dissolved Solids, by evaporating a known volume of water to dryness. I've done this and <"I really can't recommend it">. As you say the <"SI unit is the Siemen (S)">, and it is the reciprocal (1/Ohm) of...
  17. dw1305

    Understanding Water Report.

    Hi all, If you had aquifer water it would be hard (from the Torbay limestones), but because it is from a reservoir on Dartmoor, it has very few solutes of any kind. cheers Darrel
  18. dw1305

    TDS pen recommendations

    Hi all, There isn't an article as such, I was going to include it in the "Cycling" article, but I haven't written it yet. I'll link in some more threads at lunchtime when I have some time. This should cover it: <"water change routine (again)!">. cheers Darrel
  19. dw1305

    TDS pen recommendations

    Hi all, In terms of use they are pretty much <"Plug and Play"> & <"Tank Transformation! House Move! I’m scared but join me for the ride!"> There is a section in <"Some handy facts about water"> under "Electrical Conductivity" and in some of the subsequent posts in that thread. cheers Darrel
  20. dw1305

    Understanding Water Report.

    Hi all, About 5 ppm magnesium (Mg)? The exact amount <"isn't decisive">. <"Epsom Salts"> (MgSO4.7H2O) is the usual choice, you can use the <"Nutrient Dosing Calculator">, but it is pretty much 10% Mg <"so the maths>" is pretty straightforward. cheers Darrel
  21. dw1305

    The nitrifying microbes in aquariums and cycling

    Hi all, Personally I always advice <"plant and wait">. It just works. If you have a look at <"Correspondence with Dr Ryan Newton - School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee"> it describes where the science is at the moment. Dr Newton says: cheers Darrel
  22. dw1305

    Understanding Water Report.

    Hi all, Easier in a lot of ways, because water changes aren't an issue and we have access <"to higher plants">, which are very effective at depleting levels of nutrients. <"Floating, or emergent, plants"> are particularly useful as nutrient reduction aids. As an example of the differences...
  23. dw1305

    Understanding Water Report.

    Hi all, Welcome to UKAPS, What @John q says. It looks to be water from a reservoir on Dartmoor somewhere, that is why the nitrate (NO3-) value is so low (max. 4.5 ppm (mg / L)). The <"higher pH"> and phosphate (PO4---) values are from added compounds to <"control the solvency of heavy...
  24. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, You can pump a huge amount of CO2 into a liquid, it is a <"very soluble gas">. The only way of keeping it in solution would be to keep it contained, in the <"pop bottle"> scenario. The problem would be that as the concentration of dissolved CO2 became larger the rate at which it...
  25. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, Thank you. I thought that was the answer. Perfect, we have a bit of discussion of <"phosphate buffers">, but not the explanation of why (until today). This is a potassium phosphate buffer calculator <"Potassium Phosphate (pH 5.8 to 8.0) Preparation and Recipe | AAT Bioquest"> cheers...
  26. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, It does, it really is the <"most horrible mess">. @_Maq_ discusses units etc. in <"Some handy facts about water">. Yes, both dGH and dKH are actually defined by their (entirely theoretical) calcium oxide (CaO) content, so 17.86 ppm CaCO3 is both 1 dGH and 1 dKH <"Water Hardness">...
  27. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, I'm not sure how much effect they will have. The sulphate ion (SO4--) is a base, <"but a weak one">. I think that is saying that basically we can regard it as neutral? but we would need @Andy Pierce or @hax47 . I think the same would apply to (ortho)phosphate (PO4---), it is a...
  28. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, They are actually measuring alkalinity (via titrimetric methods), but normally it is a fair supposition that the alkalinity is from dissolved bicarbonates. It is a really strange derivation. The details are in <"CO2 gaseous equilibrium with atmosphere"> and refer back to Larry Frank's...
  29. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, I think you are right, you would need @Andy Pierce for confirmation, unfortunately inorganic chemistry <"isn't my strong point">. I'm pretty sure that is right as well <"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964830517312933">. Leon Steuernagel, Erika Lizette de Leon...
  30. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, That is why I've tended to regard hardness (dGH) and alkalinity (dKH) as the two halves of the same whole. Unless you are in the Okavango Delta, or similar, all rivers lead the to the sea. In the UK freshwater both parameters are nearly always derived from the <"dissolution of...
  31. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, We do. This thread may be of interest: <"Potassium Carbonate (K2CO3) vs pH ?"> You could make your own <"phosphate buffers"> using the weak base dipotassium phosphate (K2HPO4.nH2O) and weak acid monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4). There isn't any point, but it is possible. cheers Darrel
  32. dw1305

    Confusion concerning 0dKH and nitrification

    Hi all, I think that it is it. Where ever TAN (NH3 / NH4+), or nitrite (NO2-), are present, in aerobic situations, <"there will be organisms"> that can, and will, utilise them. We have a thread that may be of interest: - <"Correspondence with Dr Ryan Newton - School of Freshwater Sciences...
  33. dw1305

    High phosphate

    Hi all, <"Oh yes">, but in terms of <"doing a job">? <"Any plant will do">. I use <"Ceratopteris thalictroides and Ceratophyllum demersum"> as sub-surface floaters. cheers Darrel
  34. dw1305

    High phosphate

    Hi all, Pretty standard for SE England. Your water is less hard and alkaline than a lot of people, but you have quite a lot of nitrate (NO3-). I'd guess that it is a "blended supply" with a mixture of aquifer and surface water (from the Weald?) Water hardness map in <"Cannot Grow Plants">...
  35. dw1305

    High phosphate

    Hi all, That is the one, but you are unlikely to get a phosphate (PO4---) value, purely because there isn't a maximum permitted value, so the water company can't be in breach of it. Water companies routinely add PO4--- to tap water to ensure that levels of heavy metals don't exceed regulatory...
  36. dw1305

    Reverse Osmosis Usage Check

    Hi all, I think you are right, it is definitely <"go big, or go home">. This is my new tank, I think that this one really is fully stocked. Fishes and Scales M.C. Escher Date: 1959 <"Fishes and Scales, 1959 - M.C. Escher - WikiArt.org"> cheers Darrel
  37. dw1305

    Reverse Osmosis Usage Check

    Hi all, I think you probably would get issues. I think both microbial ammonia oxidation and the conversion of nitrite (NO2-) to nitrate (NO3-) would be compromised. Have a look at <"Joe's tank">, that has a reasonable fish load, personally my version of "over-stocked" is if you can...
  38. dw1305

    Reverse Osmosis Usage Check

    Hi all, I'm guessing that there will still be <"microbial nitrification occurring">, just at a lower rate than "normal". My guess would actually be that there aren't any naturally occurring aquatic environments where <"microbial nitrification doesn't occur">. I've found a paper. It isn't...
  39. dw1305

    Reverse Osmosis Usage Check

    Hi all, I think that is the crux of the issue, it is the <"horses for courses"> argument. If you take a UK example you get Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) in nutrient & base poor water stained with peat, in chalk stream, in estuaries and in the sea. So neither conductivity or salinity is important...
  40. dw1305

    Reverse Osmosis Usage Check

    Hi all, The rock looks OK, the gravel should be inert, it's water washed flint, but there could potentially be some chalk mixed in. Cheers Darrel
  41. dw1305

    Reverse Osmosis Usage Check

    H all, That is actually <"where a lot of people's are"> in the S., S.E. and E. of England <"Some handy facts about water">. It is just as a result of atmospheric CO2 levels <"Global Monitoring Laboratory - Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases"> and the <"preponderance of limestone aquifers">. A...
  42. dw1305

    Reverse Osmosis Usage Check

    Hi all, That is quite a big difference. As you say we don't know what those "extra ions" are, they could have built up over time, or they might be from an "aquarium" salt addition etc. Have a look at <"Joe Gargas's article"> linked in <"White blob on ram dorsal fin">. If you had limestone...
  43. dw1305

    Kh dropping

    Hi all, At work (just W. of Bath) it is <"Bristol Water">, which is more variable than the <"water at home"> (N. Wiltshire), but it should do the job. You aren't going to need very much. I think that the state of the <"snail shells"> is actually quite a sensitive metric. Once you find a level...
  44. dw1305

    Kh dropping

    Hi all, I'm pretty sure that was how <"I lost mine">. Because I have really hard, alkaline tap water, which is <"consistent throughout the year">, I've been using that as my <"remineralising agent"> and the <"Ramshorn snail">, <"snail-shell index"> as my indication of when to add some tap...
  45. dw1305

    Chlorine or Chloramine Level + Testing Inline Dechlorinators

    Hi all, OK that makes sense and I'm in "apples and oranges" territory. This is a chemical process. "Catalytic" is meant to <"suggest something special">, but this <"is just activated charcoal"> - From: <"7.4.2. Activated Carbon">. For <"nitrification">, the process of "biological...
  46. dw1305

    Chlorine or Chloramine Level + Testing Inline Dechlorinators

    Hi all, No, not really, probably actually quite the opposite. <"Dwell time"> isn't really that relevant, as far as I'm concerned <"it is a diversionary tactic"> used by the <"vendors of Biohome"> etc to try and imply that their media can perform <"simultaneous aerobic nitrification and...
  47. dw1305

    Chlorine or Chloramine Level + Testing Inline Dechlorinators

    Hi all, You can smell and taste chlorine (Cl2) at above 0.5 ppm. The problems nearly always come with <"emergency chloramine dosing">, usually where the integrity of the water main is threatened. <"Regular chloramine dosing"> traditionally <"only occurs in the UK"> when the water will have a...
  48. dw1305

    RO membrane and pre-filters - service life in 345mg/L very hard water

    Hi all, Damn, close but no cigar. That is because you are a <"good fish-keeper">, I'm just not <"very good at it">. I'm never going down the hard water route, but hypothetically if I did? I would probably drive to the Netherland and buy them from <"Utaka"> etc. cheers Darrel
  49. dw1305

    RO membrane and pre-filters - service life in 345mg/L very hard water

    Hi all, Moderately soft, very low alkalinity. I'm a <"fairly shoddy aquarist">, but @Roland uses <"Soft water tank"> and I'm going to say that he probably knows what he is doing. cheers Darrel
  50. dw1305

    RO membrane and pre-filters - service life in 345mg/L very hard water

    Hi all, Tropheus (T. moorii?), very nice and you obviously know what you are doing. Even if I could keep them alive, without bloating etc., I'd be terrified that <"I'd wake up one morning"> and they would have ripped each other to shreds. I was thinking more Shellies (Neolamprologus...
  51. dw1305

    Reverse Osmosis Usage Check

    Hi all, I'd guess not. If you made the water a lot softer, and less alkaline, you might eventually run into problems with your livebearers. You'll need some-one with practical experience to comment. I've always used rainwater and kept fish <"that like soft water"> (probably the majority of...
  52. dw1305

    Reverse Osmosis Usage Check

    Hi all, Yes, nearly all the parameter decline in direct proportion to the amount of RO added. When you mix 50 : 50 RO : tap, your dGH, dKH, Acid Neutralizing Capacity and conductivity are all halved. This doesn't work for pH, it will remain at ~pH 8, mainly because pH is very strange...
  53. dw1305

    RO membrane and pre-filters - service life in 345mg/L very hard water

    Hi all, <"https://www.stroodaquarist.co.uk/factsheets/">? Personally if I used our tap water? I'd keep <"Lake Tanganyika cichlids">. It is all about the same for people who get <"ground water from a limestone aquifer">, about 17 ~ 18 dGH and 17 ~ 18 dKH (so that is a lot of members in the...
  54. dw1305

    low pH?

    Hi all, I don't know the answer, and "too acidic" may be that answer, but I'm not sure the <"pH is that relevant">. The reason is that the tap water only <"had 2 dKH carbonate hardness"> and that is <"less alkaline"> than the rainwater I use. I'm going to guess if you had started with <"our...
  55. dw1305

    Preparing RO for black water

    Hi all, I got fed-up with getting through a new electric shower every two years and got a kinetic <"ion exchange water softener">, which has solved the shower issue, but has meant we get through <"a lot of salt">. <"This is our tap water">, lovely <"to drink">, but not great for the plumbing...
  56. dw1305

    Preparing RO for black water

    Hi all, A floater? I've talked with <"Tom Christoffersen"> and he says you find <"Pistia stratiotes"> all over the Peruvian Amazon basin. This <"sort of thing">. cheers Darrel
  57. dw1305

    Need some help with RO water info

    Hi all, It does if you have <"hard, alkaline tap water">. Unfortunately you can't, without <"adding pH buffers">. The following also applies to the sellers, or promoters, of pH buffers....... At 4 dKH your pH will raise to ~pH8, and it isn't a problem. There is a discussion here <"Potassium...
  58. dw1305

    Need some help with RO water info

    Hi all, You can't really lock in values for pH, dGH or dKH. Have a look at <"Some handy facts about water">. Electrical conductivity <"you can measure accurately">, but you would need to know the <"conversion factor from microS. to ppm TDS">. You don't actually need to remineralise the RO...
  59. dw1305

    Soft alkaline water?

    Hi all, Apologies, it is back to imprecise terminology <"Some handy facts about water">, I mean the reserve of buffering derived from CaCO3 and, in this case, you don't have any. cheers Darrel
  60. dw1305

    Soft alkaline water?

    Hi all, It Is a bit of a strange one. The sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is strong base and is disassociated into a Na+ and an OH- ion. You only need a very small addition of NaOH to raise the pH, and that means you only need a small addition of acid to "overwhelm" the bases and cause the pH value to...
  61. dw1305

    Preparing RO for black water

    Hi all, If you really want <"true blackwater"> you don't need to remineralise the water at all, just add some tannic and humic compounds. If you just want to add a bit of dGH (and dKH) your tap water <"is ideal for that">. You are going to add magnesium (Mg) with your fertiliser addition...
  62. dw1305

    RO membrane and pre-filters - service life in 345mg/L very hard water

    Hi all, Not really, I use the <"Daphnia bioassay">. Two water butts <"daisy chained together"> also helps. These are the back garden butts. I've still got two of the three butts, but the "daisy chained" green-blue butt (far left) sprung a leak and I had to replace it. This image was pre-2011...
  63. dw1305

    Seachem equilibrium to high potassium

    Hi all, That is it. The DI resin will reduce the conductivity (ions in solution), but it is an incredibly marginal gain and of no real significance. As an example, if you leave DI water to stand, the conductivity will rise by 3 or 4 microS, purely from the 0.015% of the 400 ppm of atmospheric...
  64. dw1305

    Seachem equilibrium to high potassium

    Hi all, The easy answer is just don't use <"Seachem Equilibrium"> - <"Seachem method of potassium dosing"> and you don't need to pay more for DI water (than for RO). For our purposes the <"ion exchange resin cartridge"> makes absolutely no difference. @Zeus. and @Hanuman have actually...
  65. dw1305

    RO membrane and pre-filters - service life in 345mg/L very hard water

    Hi all, There are quite a few variables, but as a general rule the harder the water is the more problems you have with membrane life and "scaling". It is a bit of a silly question, but do you have an ion exchange (one that contains salt NaCl) water softener? If you do, you will get a lot...
  66. dw1305

    How to get RO water to the right gH and kH parameters?

    Hi all, Other members @X3NiTH, @Happi, @_Maq_ are much better at water chemistry (and much more conscientious) than I am. I'm a <"pretty lazy and shoddy aquarist"> (and scientist), but I've got a <"sceptical mind">, a <"veneer of science knowledge"> and a <"fairly good memory"> and I tend to...
  67. dw1305

    How to get RO water to the right gH and kH parameters?

    Hi all, Subsequently posted in your other thread <"Estimative Index"> (including <"the links">). It depends on the fish, snails and shrimps you use. Most plants are happy at low alkalinity (dKH) values, partially because it makes nutrient availability less problematic. Have a look at @Roland...
  68. dw1305

    Is Low carbonate hardness a problem?

    Hi all, If you change a bit more water then that you should replenish the alkalinity (carbonate hardness). Nitrification will use up <"some of the carbonate hardness">. I use regular small volume water changes, because it <"suits my morning routine">. Plant health looks fine in <"your other...
  69. dw1305

    Is Low carbonate hardness a problem?

    Hi all, I'd just change a bit more water. Diana Walstad herself now advocates both some water changes and some water circulation. The links and details are in the thread is <"Walstad revises">. I have hard water and I am a rainwater user. If I didn't have access to rainwater I'd use tap. What...
  70. dw1305

    Seachem stability=cloudy water?

    Hi all, That sounds promising. Semi-titrimetric tests ("count the number of drops"), ideally <"with a standard"> included, are usually better than test strips etc. but I have <"some reservations"> about nearly all test kits available to us <"Testing kit recommendations">. I <"like a...
  71. dw1305

    Seachem stability=cloudy water?

    Hi all, I'd definitely change some water and stop adding the <"Seachem Stability">, you could try <"Tim Hovanec's product"> or <"Secret Ingredient Soup">. You are going to get some ammonia (NH3) release from the soil, and ideally you want to <"reduce that level"> and a dark start, with water...
  72. dw1305

    Seachem stability=cloudy water?

    Hi all, That looks to be the best advice. This is from <"Correspondence with Dr Ryan Newton - School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee"> Dr Newton says: We've also talked with Dr Tim Hovanec <"One & Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria">, whose comments may also be of...
  73. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, They aren't really "infected", you just have <"plants you don't want">, rather than the "plants you do", but <"they are all plants">. You need more plant mass, this means leaving the leaves on and <"getting some floating plants">, these have leaves that won't get algae growing on...
  74. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, You need to load it to Youtube etc. and then link the WWW address. <"How to! - Post a video"> cheers Darrel
  75. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, You would need to ask @keef321 for a proper answer, but I think the red plant (at the back) is a Ludwigia sp <"https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/Ludwigiarepens'Rubin'(033D)/4450"> and the Rotala sp. <"Rotala rotundifolia - Tropica Aquarium Plants"> is the smaller, paler...
  76. dw1305

    Thoughts on EC meters

    Hi all, Cheap conductivity meters are fine. They are simple electronically and <"conductivity is a linear scale"> all the way from DI to seawater. Temperature does have an effect, so automatic temperature compensation is useful, but not essential. Cheers Darrel
  77. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, You don't need the potassium sorbate, you can just acidify the micro-nutrient solution with "white vinegar" or similar. In terms of the green water, the green water algae are plants, so it just says all the nutrients required for plant growth are available. My advice as well, just...
  78. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, Your tap water is moderately hard and nitrate (NO3) rich, this means that you can add less of @GHNelson 's fertiliser and you may have issues with iron availability, @keef321 is your best bet for information. He has <"seen it, done it"> and now has the tee-shirt. <"It doesn't matter">...
  79. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, Just don't listen to them <"GSA and Phosphate">. cheers Darrel
  80. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, That is a good start. I think some familiarity with the scientific method helps a lot - <"Reliable testing methods?">. I tend to regard the values from <"peer reviewed papers">, <"Universities"> and Water Companies* as "likely to be accurate", after that I'm dubious. * Unfortunately...
  81. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, That is actually quite relevant to discussion about permanent hardness (dGH), because you live in one of the <"few areas of the UK"> where the permanent water hardness is made up from both calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). This is because you have <"evaporite minerals present"> in the...
  82. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, Personally I'd carry on adding all the nutrients. I'm not anti-testing <"Testing for EI">, I actually look after a lab. where <"we do some water testing">, but I don't make decisions based on test results, unless I'm happy with the methodology and equipment used used. cheers Darrel
  83. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, Interesting, unfortunately only time will tell. cheers Darrel
  84. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, There might be a greenish tinge. Is the <"green algae on the gravel"> new? I'll be honest, I would look on some green algae growth <"as a good sign">, one that indicates that plant available iron (Fe+++) is present. <"Alternanthera deficiency">. cheers Darrel
  85. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, Even I'm amazed by that. It is <"Frogbit Envy"> all <"over again">. That noise you can hear (wherever you are) is me throwing <"my toys out of the pram again">. cheers Darrel
  86. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, Thanks @keef321 . Yes, normally permanent harness (dGH) and alkalinity or carbonate (or temporary) hardness (dKH) increase together because they are both derived from limestone (CaCO3) and that supplies 1 dGH to 1 dKH. Have a look at <"Some handy facts about water">. You can use...
  87. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, I use rainwater, so FeEDTA is fine for me. If I had harder water? I'd use FeEDDHA <"How to mix FeEDDHA"> and the <"pink tint"> method, I actually see the pink tinged water colour as an advantage rather than <"aesthetically displeasing">. You could try <"Vitax (Chempak) Sequestered...
  88. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, I probably should have put in a little more about solubility and ions in the <"answer above">. Soluble salts When you add a soluble salt, like <"potassium nitrate"> (KNO3), to water it disassociates (dissolves) fully into a potassium cation (K+) and a nitrate anion (NO3-). It will only...
  89. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, It doesn't really matter what the brand is called, it just depends on <"which chelator they use for iron">. They need to use one <"which is suitable for harder water">. I'll add in @keef321 . It is back to the <"red house brick analogy">, you can call it iron rich (which is true, it...
  90. dw1305

    are oxygen test kits useful?

    Hi all, <"We purchased"> this meter in the end <"HI-9829 Multiparameter pH/ISE/EC/DO/Turbidity Waterproof Meter (GPS option available)">. cheers Darrel
  91. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, See what happens, but you may need to try <"another chelator">, one that isn't based on <"ferrous gluconate">. cheers Darrel
  92. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, I'm clueless as well. It will take a while for the plants to improve once iron (Fe) is plant available. If you don't add plant available iron? Then plant growth doesn't improve, whatever else you do. Cheers Darrel
  93. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, I can do that one. It definitely isn't nitrogen (N), just because nitrogen is mobile within the plant and nitrogen deficiencies would cause pale green older leaves. Have a look at <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?">. But it isn't comprehensive. You need a <"complete...
  94. dw1305

    Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!

    Hi all, I'd guess that <"both your cloudy water"> and plant growth issues are related to the non-availability of iron (Fe), that is what has caused the white (chlorotic) new growth in the picture below. Have a look at <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?"> and the subsequent posts. It...
  95. dw1305

    Reminialize with aquasoil

    Hi all, OK, that makes sense. <"It will"> Almost certainly not. You would need to ask @_Maq_ about <"ratios etc">, but plants don't have a huge requirement for calcium (Ca) or magnesium (Mg). I've got a bit of a jaundiced view of all this and I think a lot of it is derived from a <"wish to...
  96. dw1305

    Reminialize with aquasoil

    Hi all, Same for me - <"GH+KH RO Reminiralzation Product Help."> & <"Oh Wise Ones - Is My Rising TDS Related to Raising the KH/GH"> It seems to work <"Soft water tank">, personally I don't think you need that much <"permanent hardness"> (dGH). cheers Darrel
  97. dw1305

    Reminialize with aquasoil

    Hi all, I think the aquasoil is your issue, if you have an inert substrate it is a lot easier to work out, it is just the dGH & dKH that you've added to your RO water. Personally I've created an active substrate that hardens the water (via Ca++ and 2HCO3-), <"but purely accidently">. I'm...
  98. dw1305

    Can zinc be a problem?

    Hi all, Welcome to UKAPS. Zinc (Zn) is a common contaminant of tap water. It isn't particularly toxic to people, so it isn't a major concern for water companies. <"https://www.dwqr.scot/media/iagfid5g/pws-parameter-information-zinc.pdf">. If you live in a fairly dry area of the USA (or an...
  99. dw1305

    Rescaping w/ fresh aqua soil but existing filter, when add fish?

    Hi all, It had to be something a bit strange. Yes I definitely would. You won't have much ammonia when the tank is running, so you don't want much when it is "cycling". Cheers Darrel
  100. dw1305

    Rescaping w/ fresh aqua soil but existing filter, when add fish?

    Hi all, I think you are right, so something wrong with the test kits I'm afraid and <"possibly / probably the nitrate one">? The ammonia (TAN) from the Ada Amazonia has to have gone somewhere, so unless you are doing huge water changes every day it is is still there as some combination of...
Back
Top