Re: First Tests results are in.

[Ozdude]

"George Pontis" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
>
> says...
>> Hi Guys, I am not sure what to make of this (this is for the new 4' tank
>> which is now lightly stocked (fish), with a couple of inert rocks, a
>> large
>> piece of scrubbed and prepared bogwood, quite a few plants and black
>> washed
>> (new) gravel about 3" thick, 2 x 36W T5 fluoro - 219L/58 US Gal):
>>
>> pH 7.8
>> Ammonia 0
>> Nitrite 0
>> Nitrate 0
>> GH 268.5ppm
>> KH 89.5ppm
>> CO2 2.377ppm
>>
>> If I am interpreting this correctly, my buffering is OK (KH). The GH
>> indicates moderately hard water. It could be hard to pull the pH down
>> with
>> this amount of GH and my plants aren't getting enough CO2 for optimal
>> growth?
>
> Ozdude, your water will work out well with CO2 injection. The GH does not
> affect
> pH much, KH is a measure of the carbonate buffer that balances pH and CO2.
> With
> KH=89.5 (divide by 17.9 for German degrees), you would hit pH=7.0 with 15
> ppm CO2
> or ph=7.2 at 9ppm CO2.

Thanks for your commentary. I just used Chuck's Planted Aquaria Windows
based tank calculator which gave the same projection results. I guess,
assuming all the Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and pH don't bounce around or
spike too much, it's just going to be a matter of getting the CO2 amount
that's inputted right?

Also, do you know if it's normal for CO2 to be this low without injection?
My plants are all growing, but I am guessing if I get the CO2 right they
will *really* be growing ;)

Thanks,

Oz