AverageWhiteBloke
Member
Firstly Hello, as this is my first post I thought I'd introduce myself & my setup.
I've been a member of the forum for a while but spent a lot of time reading the articles before posting. I used to have a decent planted tank back in the day but due to work commitments away from home reverted back to just a standard commoner garden tropical tank with some easy growers for ease of maintenance. Now I'm home working for the foreseeable future my new years resolution is to get back into it.
Interesting how opinions have changed from the reading I was doing back then!
My set up
Aqua One 850 approx 165L with built in filtration.
Lighting 2 x 30in 25W 1 x 23.5in 20W roughly 1.6 per ltr
Substrate Gravel & Sand mix
Ferts Dry powders
Co2 through diffuser
Drop checker
My aim is for a long term as oppose a show tank. I have ordered some new mostly Discus tank friendly plants to mix in with the washed out looking ones as the design of the tank and my house keep the tank pretty warm, usually hovers at about 27 deg without the heater ever being on.
The lighting although sufficient wattage may not be the best for plants but I'll see how they go for now.
Question is the tap water from my mains is devoid of any minerals, generally I have to double the water in the test kit to get any KH reading roughly between 1/2 and 1 KH. I know there is a lot of debate in here and other places, people saying they have no probs with no KH and some German tanks having liquid concrete.
Just wondering what UKAPS members currently think on the subject? The books I have (quite old) reccomend no less than 4 KH and the Red Sea drop tester I have says it will not give an accurate reading below this! I do add Aquapur which increases KH/GH at supposedly the right levels as it is used for re-mineralising RO water but with no exact science involved usually with water changes based on the theory that its has at least got some in.
Thanks
I've been a member of the forum for a while but spent a lot of time reading the articles before posting. I used to have a decent planted tank back in the day but due to work commitments away from home reverted back to just a standard commoner garden tropical tank with some easy growers for ease of maintenance. Now I'm home working for the foreseeable future my new years resolution is to get back into it.
Interesting how opinions have changed from the reading I was doing back then!
My set up
Aqua One 850 approx 165L with built in filtration.
Lighting 2 x 30in 25W 1 x 23.5in 20W roughly 1.6 per ltr
Substrate Gravel & Sand mix
Ferts Dry powders
Co2 through diffuser
Drop checker
My aim is for a long term as oppose a show tank. I have ordered some new mostly Discus tank friendly plants to mix in with the washed out looking ones as the design of the tank and my house keep the tank pretty warm, usually hovers at about 27 deg without the heater ever being on.
The lighting although sufficient wattage may not be the best for plants but I'll see how they go for now.
Question is the tap water from my mains is devoid of any minerals, generally I have to double the water in the test kit to get any KH reading roughly between 1/2 and 1 KH. I know there is a lot of debate in here and other places, people saying they have no probs with no KH and some German tanks having liquid concrete.
Just wondering what UKAPS members currently think on the subject? The books I have (quite old) reccomend no less than 4 KH and the Red Sea drop tester I have says it will not give an accurate reading below this! I do add Aquapur which increases KH/GH at supposedly the right levels as it is used for re-mineralising RO water but with no exact science involved usually with water changes based on the theory that its has at least got some in.
Thanks