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View Full Version : how do i bring down my carbonate hardness?


jazzmanb
09/22/2006, 09:54 PM
i have a 14 gal. biocube my parameters are 1.023 salinity,temp 78-80,ammonia 0,nitrites 0, nitrates 10,calcium 400 mg/ppm,carbonate hardness 18 dh...should i lower my carbonate hardness by doing daily 10% water changes or will it settle down to the 8-12 dh on its own...also, is there something i could add to lower it...right now i have 2 mushrooms,xenia,kenya tee, polyps...thanks, brandon

drummereef
09/22/2006, 11:03 PM
I'd stop dosing anything in your tank if you are and let it come down on its own. What test kit are you using?

jazzmanb
09/22/2006, 11:39 PM
im not dosing anything anymore...i dosed a little calcium earler though...im using the tetra test kit...

drummereef
09/22/2006, 11:56 PM
Yeah, let it come down on its own. The colormetric test kits like tetra are hard to read. You might want to get a Salifert. Very small investment on something so important.

wijayah
09/23/2006, 02:00 AM
i'am using hydrolchloric acid to down alkaline. but beware for drop in ph (don't worry ph swing after 1x24 hour ph come back to normal) . 1 dkh per day is enough.

Randy Holmes-Farley
09/23/2006, 06:07 AM
In this case, I'd just let it decline on its own, while maintaining at least 400 ppm calcium What are you adding to replace evaporated water? Tap water can boost alkalinity.

This article has more:

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm