why KH levels decrease and up?

[Bluefreshfish]

Hello

Why KH levels decrease and up please?

 

[Koglin]

Hello,

So.. Do you mean, why are your KH levels decreasing and increasing?

 

[Bluefreshfish]

Both please
what can influence it?

 

[Koglin]

Hmm.. I am not as experienced as others' on the forum.. so hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong - constructive criticism always helps.

So, KH is a measurement of carbonates and bicarbonates in your water.. which, to put it plainly, are various minerals present in your water (minerals that contain the carbonate ion, bicarbonates are simply more acidic carbonates - you could say). There's not really a bad amount of kh depending on the type of water you need to keep as it affects GH (this is because KH is a small part of the GH measurement - which is your general hardness, basically calcium and magnesium ions). KH is really just your water's ability to keep ph stable - which is important for your fish. Sort of like a car bumper, which takes damage in an accident instead of your cars frame - your KH does this for your PH.

So if you are experiencing swings in kh: it likely stems from your maintenance schedule/water you're changing with, or things present in the aquarium (such as: substrate, shell decorations, crushed coral, mineral supplements, shrimp/crayfish husks, cuttle bones, etc. etc.).

Questions for ya:

Is this about a freshwater tank, saltwater tank, or brackish water tank?

What is your kh, and what has it been doing? Can you provide details of how wide the range is?

Also, what is your ph & gh?

What kind of fish/plants do you have, or plan to buy, for this tank?

And, what kind of additives do you use with your tank? Have you been adding anything to try and manipulate your kh?

 

[Essjay]

A lot of things excreted by the fish are acidic and will react with carbonate. This uses up some of the KH and the pH remains stable.

When does your KH drop and go up, and by how much? And as Koglin says, do you have any calcium carbonate in the tank such as shells, coral, limestone?

 

[Bluefreshfish]

Thanks for the answers guy !
I think I don't have any problems with my fish tank .i just don't want to do anything that can influence it badly
I have shells and a molly that poop a lot ( he always eat algaes)
i dont' use any product
my kh stays at 6-8
my ph is always at 7.2-7.8
I have golden barbs tiger barbs, a molly and a rosy barb ( i have planned to outake 2 species)
I don't add any additives