Help with KH

[cstar]

I have an African cichlid tank my Ph is 8, my GH is 120 , but my KH is 60. I have crushed shells in one of my filters and I still can't get my KH up. I have no crushed coral. Why is my KH so low?

 

[HN1]

What are your source water parameters? Water change schedule? What type of cichlids? I think your parameters should be fine as long as they're stable.

 

[squirrilah fish]

Is there a reason you want to bring the KH up? How are the fish. API makes an African rift buffer that will help with that too. But I don't foresee any problems from those readings. Your PH is good, so it seems strange your KH is so low. But I'm a big believer that stability is more important than ideal readings.

 

[cstar]

What I've learned about water parameters is that a low KH means that the water is unstable and the ph could change for any reason.

 

[HN1]

Alkalinity plays a part as well. I'm far from a chemist and hope one of the few we have on the site will speak up, but I believe that your kh may seem low in respect to pH, but that the alkalinity may be on the high side. Kh or Alk will buffer (stabilize swings).

 

[cstar]

I'm just new so I have a lot to learn.