My tap water report

[barbarossa4122]

This is the report of my tap water but, I don't have a clue what this report means. There are 3 systems that supply NYC, I get water from the Catskill/Delaware system. Any chemists out there that would like to help me understand this ?
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wsstat01b.pdf

My Kh is 4 , Gh is 8 and Ph 7-7.2.

 

[Tug]

No chemist am I

Hi bar,
Except for your levels of copper (0.01 - 0.4ppm) and lead (ND - 3.6ppm) your water is much cleaner then mine and I fill my tank directly from the Tap. Unless you have really old plumbing your water levels will likely be on the safer end of those ranges. IMHO, you have no need for an RO filter. You might try a metal removal filter for the tap. Activated carbon will nab a fair amount of organics. For your peace of mind you could find a lab that will test your tap water for copper and lead (maybe have them check the levels of Ca and Mg as well). Copper is fine for plants at levels to about .4ppm or so. That will kill some algae, but some sensitive species of plants too. I don't know what levels would lead to lead toxicity, but I don't see anything to worry about unless your plumbing is too antiquated.

On a side note, nothing will get a response from the experts as fast as when I give bad advice or steer someone in the wrong direction.

I hope this helps.

 

[barbarossa4122]

I do use carbon, Purigen and UVs. My plants are doing OK so far. I was just trying to find out if I need to dose any extra Ca besides what's in the Gh booster. I will try to look for a llab. Thanks Tug.

 

[Tug]

It's possible that the carbon, if you have it in the tanks filter, would be adsorbing some of the fertilizer ingredients, especially elements that are metals like iron. If you don't have a specific need for the carbon (removing medication, tannins from driftwood, etc.) it may be better to remove it and find one that can filter the tap water before you add it to your tank.

Purigen absorbs organic materials out of the water that the plants do not need. It leaves the nitrates alone just removes the organics that usually rot producing these nitrates.

My understanding is that GH boosters would add some Ca and Mg. Wether it would be enough depends on what you start with and how much you are adding.

 

[Biollante]

Hi,

Using the charcoal portion of the RO works well. Home Depot ect. have filters, cheap, might as well filter all your water. Takes care of copper, so on.

As for myself, I only use Purigen and/or carbon if I have a particular problem. :gw

Yes, you could use a little CaCl2.

Biollante

 

[barbarossa4122]

Thank you guys. This is what I found in the 2008 water report for my area in NYC:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wsstate08.pdf

Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3)- 12.9 average

Calcium (mg/L)- 5.6 average

Hardness (mg/L CaCO3)- 19 average

Hardness (grains/gallon[US]CaCO3)(6)- 1.1 average

Magnesium (mg/L)- 1.2

pH (pH units)- 7.2

Potassium (mg/L)- 0.6

Sodium (mg/L)- 9

Sulfate (mg/L)- 5.0

All I know about what's in this report, is that the Ph looks OK.

I am using API gh test kit and it shows me a gh of 5.

I do have the Gh booster and the Equilibrium. Do I need to add any ? So far, in the last 3 months I kept adding ( WC only) 3/4 tsp of Ultimate Gh booster from Green Leaf in my 55g and 1/2 tsp in my 30g.
Btw, any difference between the Booster and the Equilibrium ? Thank you.
I am new at this planted aquarium hobby, I do like it and somehow I did manage to get decent plant growth. Don't ask me how.
Lol, no more algae. It looks like WCs, the Excel and the ferts took care of them.

 

[Biollante]

Algae Is Optional

Hi,

Your water appears to be excellent!

I think a little Gh booster at each water change is a good idea, raise the GH by 1 or 2 degrees, more won't hurt.

3/4 teaspoon GH booster at water change looks good, you could use a bit less if you wish.

It is amazing what good management does for you.

Algae is optional, I grow some intentionally, but not in my tanks, in fact prior to my getting my mind right here, I always assumed we were going to have to accept a certain amount of algae in my tanks. Some algae can be kind of pretty, or fit in nicely.

Biollante

 

[barbarossa4122]

Hi Biollante,

Thanks for the advice.

Do you think that my tap water Ca(5.6) and Mg(1.2) levels are very low?

I do 70% WCs once a week.

 

[Biollante]

Yep.

Hi Biollante,

Thanks for the advice.

Do you think that my tap water Ca(5.6) and Mg(1.2) levels are very low?

I do 70% WCs once a week.

Hi,

Yes they are low for planted tanks.

I would add ~3/4 teaspoon CaCl2 (mix prior, it is exothermic when mixed with water) 3 times a week. Do not add with PO4.

I would add !/2 teaspoon of Epsom Salt, MgSO4.7H2O 3 times a week.

The above is based on a 55-gallon tank and precision in dosing is not a big concern.

Biollante

 

[Tug]

Hi all,
Here is a post from Left C describing a few of the different GH Boosters out there.

Some GH Boosters contain Fe and some don't. Seachem's Equilibrium, Grumpy's GH Booster and The Ultimate GH Booster contain Fe while Barr's GH Booster and Kent Marine's R/O Right do not contain Fe according to the info that I found.

Guaranteed Analysis - Equilibrium: http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Equilibrium.html
Soluble Potassium (K20) 23.0%
Calcium (Ca) 8.06%
Magnesium (Mg) 2.41%
Soluble Iron (Fe) 0.11%
Soluble Manganese (Mn) 0.06%
Derived from: potassium sulfate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, ferric sulfate, manganese sulfate. Elemental potassium is present at a concentration of 195,000 ppm (19.5%). Archaic fertilizer laws force us to list potassium in terms of equivalence to a material that is not present (K2O) rather than the more scientifically sound method of simple elemental equivalence.

Grumpy's GH Booster: http://www.bestaquariumregulator.com/dosing.html
* 5 grams will add the following to 10 gallons of water:
* 25 ppm K+
* 39 ppm CaCO3 hardness equivalent (just over 2 dGH) (breaks out as 26.6 ppm Ca as CaCO3 and 12 pppm Mg as CaCO3)
* 12 ppm Mg
* 0.15 ppm Fe
* 0.07 ppm Mn
* And will raise the GH just over 2 dGH.

The Ultimate GH Booster: http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/gh-booster.html
Description - Contains:
* Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4)
* Calcium Sulfate (CaSO4)
* Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4)
* Iron Sulfate (FeSO4)
* Manganese Sulfate (MnSO4)

Barr's GH Booster: http://aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=inven&EditU=2&Regit=7
This is Tom Barr's Poor Man's GH Builder/Booster. Barr's GH Booster contains: Potassium Sulfate, Calcium Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate.

KENT MARINE R/O RIGHT: http://www.kentmarine.com/products/kent-ro-right.htm
Kent Marine Powdered R/O Right is a specially formulated mixture of dissoluble solids (also called general hardness or GH) which includes major salts of sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium together with all necessary minor and trace minerals, together with a small amount of carbonate alkalinity (KH) to reproduce artificial river water (most aquarium fish are river fish). Provides natural water chemistry for the conversion of reverse osmosis, distilled or deionized water for fresh water fish and plants. Provides a balanced electrolyte system. Useful for all fresh water fish, including Discus. This is the premium dry formula used by the world over to raise discus and other freshwater species. Contains no phosphates, nitrates, silicates or organic chemicals to pollute the system! R/O right is unmatched for quality and value! From: http://www.marinedepot.com/Kent_Mar...ents-Kent_Marine-KM5333-FWADRO-KM5333-vi.html

Left C

 

[Philosophos]

A Fert Mixer I am With CaCl2 and Spam

Hi Barbarossa,

Biollante's advice will land you about 32ppm of Ca dosed in your 30 gal. The MgSO4 will end up being about 7.3ppm dosed; also good.

If you want to mix solutions ahead of time so that you don't have to premix every time you dose, 110.8g of CaCl2 in a 1L solution with deionized water will work; dose 1ml for every 6L 3x a week. For MgSO4, use the same method as CaCl2, but use 91.3g of MgSO4.7H2O. These two solutions will add 20mg/L Ca to the column and 5mg/L Mg per week.

Liquid dosing saves on excess fert consumption from rounding, as well as providing both greater accuracy and convenience.

 

[barbarossa4122]

I do not have any CACl2 at the moment but I'll order it from "aquariumfertilizer' in a few minutes. I do have the Epsom. One more Q if I may...............Is it OK to still dose the Gh booster/Equilibrium once a week in addition to the CACl2 and the Epsom? Thank you all for the advice.

 

[barbarossa4122]

Hi,

Yes they are low for planted tanks.

I would add ~3/4 teaspoon CaCl2 (mix prior, it is exothermic when mixed with water) 3 times a week. Do not add with PO4.

I would add !/2 teaspoon of Epsom Salt, MgSO4.7H2O 3 times a week.



The above is based on a 55-gallon tank and precision in dosing is not a big concern.

Biollante

Great, it just happens that I have a 55g and a 30g. Thank you

 

[Biollante]

Time Has Come, Said The Walrus, To Speak Of Many Things: Of GH Boosters...

Hi,

I (actually still) have used and liked Kents Marine RO Right, particularly for reconstituting RO/DI water.

I like and use Barr's Booster for general use, it gets in the way the least.

I have used and liked Grumpy's GH Booster, particularly for reconstituting RO/DI water.

I have used and liked SeaChem's Equilibrium, great for reconstituting RO/DI, simply over-priced in my cheapskate opinion. :gw

I have never used The Ultimate GH Booster, But I am sure it is also a fine product.

In planted tanks as I have evolved over these last 25 or so years, I have found that it is often as important that a product or solution to a given problem not only be effective (I also like cheap), but not get in the way of other parts.

It is one of the reasons I 'evolved' away from PMDD. When your palette, so to speak, is limited, some products have to do more things.

Biollaqnte

 

[Biollante]

Why Yes We Plants prefer It That Way

I do not have any CACl2 at the moment but I'll order it from "aquariumfertilizer' in a few minutes. I do have the Epsom. One more Q if I may...............Is it OK to still dose the Gh booster/Equilibrium once a week in addition to the CACl2 and the Epsom? Thank you all for the advice.

Hi,

Yes, in fact I would, I assumed my recommendation earlier in the advice. :gw

These are among the things that with very few exceptions require any great precision. In fact I intentionally vary the amounts a bit. With the GH Booster it is a matter of being in the habit after every water change.

Biollante

 

[barbarossa4122]

Hi,

Yes they are low for planted tanks.

I would add ~3/4 teaspoon CaCl2 (mix prior, it is exothermic when mixed with water) 3 times a week. Do not add with PO4.

I would add !/2 teaspoon of Epsom Salt, MgSO4.7H2O 3 times a week.

The above is based on a 55-gallon tank and precision in dosing is not a big concern.

Biollante

Will do. Thanks a lot.

 

[Biollante]

You Are Welcome!

Will do. Thanks a lot.

Hi,

You are most welcome.

Good luck,

Biollante

 

[barbarossa4122]

Hi Barbarossa,

Biollante's advice will land you about 32ppm of Ca dosed in your 30 gal. The MgSO4 will end up being about 7.3ppm dosed; also good.

If you want to mix solutions ahead of time so that you don't have to premix every time you dose, 110.8g of CaCl2 in a 1L solution with deionized water will work; dose 1ml for every 6L 3x a week. For MgSO4, use the same method as CaCl2, but use 91.3g of MgSO4.7H2O. These two solutions will add 20mg/L Ca to the column and 5mg/L Mg per week.

Liquid dosing saves on excess fert consumption from rounding, as well as providing both greater accuracy and convenience.

This means I have to add 31.5ml 3 times a week of both solutions for my 55g and 18.9ml for my 30g ? Just want to make sure I get this right.

 

[Biollante]

Mighty Sharp Pencil That Smart Feller Has

Hi,

Dan of Philosophos fame uses a mighty sharp pencil to come up with those numbers. Oddly enough I have found some value in varying the amounts a bit every now and then.

I think you can safely round those numbers off.

In fact I would recommend making up a weeks worth of Macros and a weeks worth of Micros mix each into 250 ml of distilled water, then dose 1 ml per gallon of gross tank volume 3 days a week.

Biollante

 

[barbarossa4122]

Yes , he is smart. In fact, all you guys are amazing. I been reading this and other forums like this for the last 3-4 months. This is like a science club.
Thanks again for your help.