Ideal water parameters

Assuming I have full control over my water parameters, what would would be the ideal levels for KH/GH/PH (start and drop) ?


Also I read that there is a sweet spot or PH and nutrient availability for soil. Does such sweet spot exist for aquatic plants?

 

Anyone?


Let me say why I am asking this question.


My tap water is around 1 KH and around 1 GH. I generally use RO water or mix just because I can get it free.


I want to dial in my PH Controller to a level I should maintain my PH/KH at.


Last week I was keeping my PH at 5.7 with my drop checker (2 of them) were steady bright yellow. My KH was 5 and starting PH was 7.1 so I had a lot of CO2 according to KH/PH table. Even though the table is not completely valid because of varying parameters in aquarium, between that and my 2 drop checkers I am sure I was beyond 40-50 ppm.


Just because my fish are not showing stress should I go beyond 30-50 ppm CO2?


I read somewhere that bacterial activity comes to a halt below 6.0 PH.


Today I did a big water change using only tap water and lowered my KH to 2 and GH to 4. My current PH is 6.5 which is about what my tap water is also.


So to target a 1 PH drop I will need to lower my PH to 5.2-5.5 (assuming ferts and other thing lower PH too).


If I have to keep my PH at or above 6.0 (to support bacterial activity) then I have to increase my KH which I dont know how plants will like since I still have some GSA and I am trying to eliminate that by trying to find balance. I believe they can accept a wide range but I assume there is a optimal range.


For PH also I believe there is a optimal range for nutrient availability.

 

I have GLA GH Booster so that adds about 1 dGH to change water. which will bring GH to 2 dGH of tap water.

That's because I use Alkaline buffer to bring PH up so I could drop it by 1 without going overboard, but last month or so I have been experimenting with Aquavitro Carbonate(potassium bicarbonate) and Mineralize (calcium gluconate and magnesium chloride) to maintain KH/GH and it was throwing my calculation off. I have switched back to Alkaline buffer and GH Booster so now I am back to 2 KH and 4 dGH.


Actually if i understand correctly, I don't need to add any buffer since the Tap is just fine at 1dGH (unless I use RO)


Thanks Tom. I will leave the setup as is then. I use American Pinpoint controller with a 5.7 center target (5.6 low 5.8 high).

 

Agreed Tom.. I am starting to realize that as I learn more and more about this hobby. And I am learning a lot which is good and bad because you get some conflicting opinion like the bacteria and PH relation which I read on a Aquaphonics website which confuses you from better judgement.


My stupidity likes to over engineer the simplest things and that's what I think many newbies like me miss. The number of options in the hobby have grown and it tends to make people like me venture out when we really don't need to.