GH/KH buffering

[PABrooks]

Hi all, haven’t filled my tank yet and checked the water. Do you think this product would be ok for a tropical tank?
What do people use if they need to buffer the GH&KH?

 

[bazz]

Do you think this product would be ok for a tropical tank?

Difficult to know for sure what it consists of, so cannot really advise one way or the other, their website is a bit sparse for information.
How big is your tank/water change, and what are the parameters of your tap water?

What do people use if they need to buffer the GH&KH?

Calcium Sulphate and/or Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Sulphate and Potassium Bicarbonate with the help of the IFC Aquarium Fertilizer Calculator.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
edit what @bazz says, but I've written this so I'll post it.

... haven’t filled my tank yet and checked the water.

You can get water parameters from your water supplier, usually you just go to their web site and put your <"postcode in">. This map might also help <"Some handy facts about water">.

Do you think this product would be ok for a tropical tank?

They will be cr*p, but that is just because all commercial remineralisers are. Companies just take the <"cheapest salts they can find"> and then sell them for a huge mark-up. They won't even tell you what is in these, but it will be a mix of salt (NaCl), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and calcium sulphate (CaSO4.2H2O) etc., this is just because they literally cost pennies for them to buy.

<"Aqua Balance GH/Kh Buffer Up – Koi Food, Pond Filters, Treatments, UK">

........ How does KH affect pH? A higher KH level will make your pH much more stable, help prevent pH crashes and also provide health benefits. KH is also vital for biological filtration as it is constantly being consumed by filter bacteria. A level of KH above 5 c is recommended. Dosage; 1kg treats 10,000 litres . This will increase KH by 2 c and GH by 4 c.....

This is pretty typical, a series of statements, that have a kernel of truth, but are totally irrelevant to planted tanks <"Soft water tank">.

What do people use if they need to buffer the GH&KH?

I use rainwater in the tanks and a splash of <"our tap water"> to add a minimal amount of dGH and dKH. <"Oyster shell chick grit"> is another option <"Pets at Home Chicken Oyster Shell Supplement | Pets">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Andy Pierce]

<"Aqua Balance GH/Kh Buffer Up – Koi Food, Pond Filters, Treatments, UK">

........ How does KH affect pH? A higher KH level will make your pH much more stable, help prevent pH crashes and also provide health benefits. KH is also vital for biological filtration as it is constantly being consumed by filter bacteria. A level of KH above 5 c is recommended. Dosage; 1kg treats 10,000 litres . This will increase KH by 2 c and GH by 4 c.....

Actually I think every one of these statements is factually incorrect (except for the part about how adding the product will increase KH and GH).

 

[PABrooks]

Thanks everyone for your input. I went down to Maidenhead Aquatics at Endsleigh (near Plymouth) and the very helpful lady said as we have soft water in Devon that one of the best things to do is put oyster shell in my canister filter. So when I set it up next Saturday I’ll put a media bag with a bit in the bottom tray of my FX6.

I’m glad after reading the responses that I didn’t buy the product I posted about.