simfish Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Can anyone please explain it in simple terms. i.e. I have a ph tester, if my ph is high I use Peat Moss, if it is low I use shells, ..... is this correct? What and how does KH play a role thanks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Sorry to be thick. I know that pH is minus the log of the hydrogen ion concentration and 7 is neutral and coca cola is 4.6 but what is KH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Carbonate hardness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 KH plays a pH buffering role. A buffer is a substance which resists the change in pH around it's natural pH level. The higher the KH, the closer the pH will be to 8.3ish, and the more it will resist any change in pH around this value. Peat is full of weak organic acids which can also act as buffers, but are centered around a lower pH, and will resist changes in pH around a lower pH than what KH does. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Thanks, I learn something every day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simfish Posted November 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Thanks mate, correct me if I am wrong, all I have to do is do my ph tests and correct the ph with peat as my tank is an aquascape setup and dont get concerned with kh as its built in somewhere there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 If you care enough about the PH to adjust and test it then you proberly need to worry about the KH as well. For two reasons firstly because KH buffers PH (i.e. keeps it stable) if your KH isn't about right your PH will be forever changing (will even change alot during the course of a day as lights etc can affect it) changing PH is not so go for the fish. Secondly fish types that care about PH levels tend to also like either hard (high KH) or soft (low KH) water as much as they like the high/low PH. But in general there arn't that many fish that require correct levels of PH/KH to do fine, even discus unless you are trying to breed them are quite happy at normal neutualish levels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simfish Posted November 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Thanks for that with regards to fish however how do your deal with this with regards to aquascaping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Can't really see what difference this makes to aquascaping. Are you concerned about plants that need low PH? I would be surprised if it really make that much difference to them? I would think that correct amounts of neutients, light and CO2, would be far more important. If you want softer water for say amazon type plants the eaziest way I have found is to use rain water, just adjust the amount (tap vs rain) till it settles down to the softness you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simfish Posted November 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Thanks for that much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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