KH Rise

[Relic]

Hi Everyone,

I just got my first pressurized CO2 system and 45 gallon tank running. It has now been running for a week, I have quite a few plants and hopefully the remaining plants I ordered come in alive - delay with Canadian International Customs, they are all like a bunch of bad cops IME! :gw
Anyway, my measured KH value from the tap at the onset of filling the tank was 4 dH. Tonight when I tested, I got 5dH. The pH of the tank water has been 6.8 all week long.
My tank inhabitants are 1 otto, 1 apple snail, 1 nerite snail, and some other small physa and ramshorn snails that came along with some java fern I had from my previous low light set up.
Is it possible that the rise in KH is due to the dissolution of CaCO3 from the snail shells? If so, I am glad my KH is higher but worried that I am already getting a lot of organic build up.

 

[Hallen]

Possibly, do you have any stones in the tank? what kind of substrate are you using?

It's even possible the smal rise is caused by Co2, this actually builds up your KH a little. Most likely nothing to worry about at all

 

[Relic]

I do not have any rock work in the tank and I am using Eco-Complete for substrate. I thought adding CO2 to the tank would eat away at the carbonate which I am sure it will eventually if left unattended. I didn't know it would cause a bit of a rise off the start

 

[Ekrindul]

Eco is said to raise KH in the beginning as calcium carbonate is leached, some batches more than others. It is also reported not to last more than a few weeks. I can't say for certain this happens even though I use Eco in both tanks. I just don't test. My tap GH is so high and I add GH Booster for Mg, so I just don't concern myself with it. As Hallen said, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Relic]

Ok, thanks for the replies.