GH should not be 0, but I have seen some killer tanks that have utilizing the low KH and pH values to get a better growth, and lower algae levels. There have been several people switching to the <3dKH and ~5-6 pH.
RO water with plants
- Thread starter Aras118119
- Start date
Dont do anything in haste. Try using a mix of RO and tap water first and measure the result. It is near impossible to buffer water chemistry wityh RO alone and this will result in wild pH swings especialy once the light is turned off. May not bother the plants but could be lethal for the fish...
WyldFya;619618; said:
Yeah they Lower the KH and GH to 3-5 range to have a better growth, imitating the Amzonia water.(thats why there is a better growth when using ADA AS products cause they lower the KH, GH and Ph) But i dont see any planted tanks that get lower 0
Kh of Zero and Ph of 5-6 is Deadly to a Fish or any species in the water. and Imagine the the tank has a co2 injected, lol thats 900- 90 Co2 level on your tank and 30 is considered deadly.
So for Safe side KH and GH of 3-5 and Ph of 6.4-6.8 is a great idea to have. You can grow all the plants on a Kh of 3 including Tonina Species, so i dont see any point why you need to put it on 0.
Potts050;619621; said:
thats the best suggestion of all, like they always said
"If your water is very soft and you are using CO2 injection you want to be sure and add something to get your kH up to at least 3 degrees to prevent large pH swings"
"If your gH is very low then you may need to provide your plants with calcium and magnesium"
So the conlusion of Using 100% RO is Recipe for messing up your water chemistry, but again its all up to you, there is no wrong on doing Experiment maybe you can have better result with it
Several of my plant suppliers keep their tanks as pH 5.2-5.4 and KH 2-3dKH. I use to, but now keep it at around 3-4dKH and 6.2pH during the day. My primary plant supplier actually keeps co2 levels at 60-70 ppms, and I keep mine at 50-60 ppms co2. These water parameters have had no adverse affects on my fish, any other locals that keep similar water params as well. 2 friends have their tanks with the 2 dKH and 5.8 pH and have discus and tetras with no problems. I have had everything from tetras to arowana in my primary plant tank, without any problems. I know this style of plant keeping is meeting extreme resistance right now, but while everyone says the fish will die, I have yet to see it.
WyldFya;620012; said:
60 co2 and no effect to fish, they not even gasping for some oxygen, lol thats a breakthrough, You can do that if you only have plants on the tank IMO, But anyways it works for you then so be it, but for safe side pls stay on recommend parameter that i post.
I'll make a thread regarding that on our PLanted Tank Forum
Most planted tanks I have seen with fish have been kept at 50-80 ppm co2. I have always done this with a WIDE variety of fish. The thought that 20ppm is the highest that fish can handle is an old myth that is not true.
I been using ro water in my 2.5 gallon for the past year and my plants are growing like crazy. I add fertilzer, discus esstenial vit., and blackwater extract, once a month after I do a water change.
Aras118119;618854; said:
What substrate are you using?
I am using eco complete and use RO/DI water with no GH or KH additives. In my planted tank the EC substrate does a fine job buffering the water, I even inject co2. I dont bother with additives...
