KH management with AS. Help!

Nutrients, fertilization, substrates etc
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sukrol
Posts: 373
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 3:46 pm
Real Name: Gabriel Andrade
Location: Montgomery Village, MD

KH management with AS. Help!

Post by sukrol »

I've been having issues with KH in tank.
I set it up in April of this year with ADA AS, rosewood and a large plant biomass. It's a 75Gal with a wet/dry filter & injected CO2 dissolved by a Sera Flore reactor.

The issue is: Even though my tap water comes out a 4dKH (WSSC Potomac Water) 24 hours later it disappears (none detectable by a brand new API test kit).
Now I realize that lowering the KH is an AS feature, but not a feature for me when it kills my livestock.
I'm trying to understand how KH is lowered by AS. Also how it interacts within the aquarium environment.
There's always the chance that the carbonate hardness that I'm detecting is mostly made out of other stuff.
Could a large plant biomass also consume it?

If there's a thread that explains the interactions I would appreciate if you point me out to it.

Finally my main goal is to manage a 3-5 dKH keep it simple & stable.

I've had a cup of aragonite in the sump for about a week with no changes. I've been told that Coral Rock or chicken grit are options.

Any guidance/advice is appreciated!
Gabriel
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Cristy Keister
Posts: 2120
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2003 6:52 am
Location: MD

Re: KH management with AS. Help!

Post by Cristy Keister »

Gabriel,

Here is a calculator to tell you how much baking soda to dose. Add it in slowly and test as you go.

http://reef.diesyst.com/cf/alkalinitycf.html
sukrol
Posts: 373
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 3:46 pm
Real Name: Gabriel Andrade
Location: Montgomery Village, MD

Re: KH management with AS. Help!

Post by sukrol »

Thank you Cristy!
Gabriel
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