Lowering kH and pH

[Alice B]

I do monthly water changes. Except on my home tanks where things got out of hand at about the 2 or 3 month point. I am getting their water changes caught up then I will resume monthly.

 

[itiwhetu]

If reducing water changes, then how to keep nitrates under control? Should I just dose prime and stability from seachem weekly and hope the cycle improves? Cut down water changes from weekly to monthly?

Your nitrates will come down if you have enough live plant and the correct fish ratio in your tank, I always aim for zero nitrates

 

[itiwhetu]

I do monthly water changes. Except on my home tanks where things got out of hand at about the 2 or 3 month point. I am getting their water changes caught up then I will resume monthly.

Don't rush it, slowly get it back to where you want it.

 

[Alice B]

I did kind of rush it, but not for pH. For cyanobacteria. And now my poor frogbit is dying for lack of nitrates I guess. Looks yellow. Nitrates between 0 and 20, guessing about 10. My pleco is in a hospital tank on oxolinic acid for cyanobacteria poisoning/fin rot, no real algae, he ate the red stuff. and those low nitrates were before the water change but there was red cyanobacteria on the glass again. I hate to use antibiotics on a tank, may treat with hydrogen peroxide instead tomorrow