Raising Kh

[bsmith782]

My current parameters are 2Dkh and 13Dgh. I have Ca and Mg, but it seems they only effect the gh. Would I get any coloration benifits from raising my kh and how is that done?

This has recently been brought up because of issues I am having with ludiwiga guinea. Although I am growing trithura sp., Tonina fluviatilis and Pogostemon Stellatus narrow leaf (albeit with little color) just fine.

 

[jeff5614]

You can use baking soda to raise KH but if you get it above 3 or so you'll probably lose your tonina as they only do well in a very low KH tank. I'm not sure that increasing KH will help with color or growth but if someone knows otherwise it would be interesting to hear. I have P stellatus and L cuba in a low KH tank with good coloring. I think how red a plant appears is dependent a lot on the lights being used and just on those particular plants.

 

[bsmith782]

Thats kind of what I was thinking Jeff. the lights are as follow. (2) 6500k coralife pc's in the 24" coralife and (1) coralife 6500k t5no and (1) 10000k coralife t5no in my 30" coralife t5no fixture.

I cant wait to get my catalina 4x24w t5ho fixture. I will run it with theit 6500k and 10000k combo at first but then switch to the giesman midday and aquaflora combo (not sure on the names im at a different cpu with diffeent book marks, ill check that when im back at work0.

 

[Tom Barr]

I think there's no good reason to raise KH unless it's for certain fish.........

Even high Kh plants, mostly some Crypts, are fine at low KH.

Also, upon adding more light= more CO2, more nutrients.

So keep on top of CO2 in every way.

 

[bsmith782]

Believe me I am trying my best. If you want to see some pics of my plants for reference check out this thread over at TPT. I actually turned down my co2 a bit due to fish gill movement.

Also a side note question. I recently (sunday) trimmed my tonina fluviatilis for the first time. The tops replanted are looking nice but the bottoms are showing an almost chlorosis like defficiency, their leaves are getting sirt of transparent looking. Is that just the nature of the beast?

I think there's no good reason to raise KH unless it's for certain fish.........

Even high Kh plants, mostly some Crypts, are fine at low KH.

Also, upon adding more light= more CO2, more nutrients.

So keep on top of CO2 in every way.