Hello,
I'm honestly a bit confused regarding the relationship of ph/kh/co2 even after plenty of research. As of right now, my tank has no co2 injection and is currently using Tropica AquaSoil. This soil brings down the KH and pH. My tap water is already next to 0KH and 6.8pH, and the substrate brings it down to some tiny KH number (0.0???) and 6.4pH.
From my understanding the lower the KH is, the less CO2 is in the system (holding pH constant). If my KH is practically 0.0 due to the active substrate, wouldn't that suggest that the CO2 levels are essentially non-existent, and that any CO2 injection won't really change the CO2 level?
Even if my KH isn't exactly 0.0, say 0.1 or 0.2, wouldn't getting a CO2 to any decent level (say 15ppm) require an insane change (more than 1 point for sure) in pH? I don't necessary need to get my CO2 to 30ppm, but having it get to 10 or 15ppm would be nice, but I'm concerned about the drastic pH fluctuation. Has anyone had experience working with active substrate that brings KH down to the zeros?
I'm honestly a bit confused regarding the relationship of ph/kh/co2 even after plenty of research. As of right now, my tank has no co2 injection and is currently using Tropica AquaSoil. This soil brings down the KH and pH. My tap water is already next to 0KH and 6.8pH, and the substrate brings it down to some tiny KH number (0.0???) and 6.4pH.
From my understanding the lower the KH is, the less CO2 is in the system (holding pH constant). If my KH is practically 0.0 due to the active substrate, wouldn't that suggest that the CO2 levels are essentially non-existent, and that any CO2 injection won't really change the CO2 level?
Even if my KH isn't exactly 0.0, say 0.1 or 0.2, wouldn't getting a CO2 to any decent level (say 15ppm) require an insane change (more than 1 point for sure) in pH? I don't necessary need to get my CO2 to 30ppm, but having it get to 10 or 15ppm would be nice, but I'm concerned about the drastic pH fluctuation. Has anyone had experience working with active substrate that brings KH down to the zeros?