Gh Dosing with Equilibrium

[PaulB]

Hi Tom,
Do i need to add additional MgSO4 to my tank if i am using equilibrium to increase my GH after a water change? My tap water is 25ppm and i am adding equilibrium to increase the tank Gh to about 90ppm.
Also my tap water appears to contain no Kh when tested with an aquarium pharmacuticals Kh test kit, do i need to increase this? If so by how much?

Thanks

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Gh Dosing with Equilibrium

I'd add a 1/4 teaspoon MgSO4(Epsom salt) per 20 gal of tank weekly anyway.
KH would be nice, adding say 1 degree is actually all you need.
But you can run a tank without KH also.

I'd stick with some KH and bit more Mg.
Keep the GH addition the same.
I'd use about 1/2 teaspoon of the Gh builder(seaChem) per 20 gal.
That's enough in most cases.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[robin adair]

Re: Gh Dosing with Equilibrium

Following on from PaulB's question, would the benefits of increasing GH by addition of MgS04, as suggested, apply equally to both C02 injected (using EI) and non-C02 methods (using Excel)?
I suspect we are trying to create a favourable ionic balance in the water column and regardless of the plant rearing system, this balance will be important and dosage rates perhaps should be the same for both systems?? But I'm guessing a bit here.

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Gh Dosing with Equilibrium

It's less to do with ions and more to do with supply.
Many folks under dose Mg and add lots of Ca.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[aquabillpers]

Re: Gh Dosing with Equilibrium

Paul said,

Do i need to add additional MgSO4 to my tank if i am using equilibrium to increase my GH after a water change? My tap water is 25ppm and i am adding equilibrium to increase the tank Gh to about 90ppm.

And Tom replied,

I'd add a 1/4 teaspoon MgSO4(Epsom salt) per 20 gal of tank weekly anyway.

And the always-learning Bill asks,

Equilibrium contains 8.06 % CA and 2.41 % Mg, anong other things. Isn't that the suggested ratio for GH? Why add more Mg?

Bill

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Gh Dosing with Equilibrium

Relative to the total amount likely from the tap, a bit more Mg will likely help, wereas the Ca will not really if there is more.

In general, do not place too much emphasis on ratios, focus on supply, on rate of uptake/removal and plant appearances.

Regards,
Tom Barr