GH won't go down!

[smdanng]

Hi everyone
This is my 2nd attempt @ Sulawesi setup. It's 10 days now since the initial setup. Parameters pH8.0 kH5 NH3/NH4 0.2 but GH18!! I did 30% water change on day 5 and day 8, GH went from initial 11 to 15, on day 10 did a 50% change,GH became 18. I'm using white coral sand with coral chips buried within. As for cycling I introduced some Neocaridina Heteropodas.
Everything seems ok but :undecidedHow can I lower GH?

[Drakarian]

white coral sand don't need coral chips. Just the sand alone will give you higher pH and GH 6-7

[smdanng]

Then should I remove the coral chips? Abit troublesome all buried under the sand. Anyways here's some pics of my 1.5ftx1ftx1ft tank
http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z459/smdanng/dbe47a2f.jpg
http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z459/smdanng/1e8858a4.jpg
http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z459/smdanng/90490e12.jpg
http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z459/smdanng/5b2b040f.jpg
http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z459/smdanng/12942465.jpg

[Drakarian]

Haha how much were those neocaridina? xD

Definitely take out those coral chips bro. Is the coral in the centre from your CRS tank? I like your set up very much! I've always preferred white background...

[2Toned]

Have you tested the GH of the water you are adding? Because it sounds like you're adding GH WITH the water.

[torsp619]

I cannot understand why you would use coral sand and coral chips in a shrimp tank? You will not get the parameters you need until you remove BOTH of them and put in a proper substrate.

[torsp619]

He is using coral for the substrate, that is the reason his Gh and Ph is through the roof.


Have you tested the GH of the water you are adding? Because it sounds like you're adding GH WITH the water.

[murival]

this is gh overload!!!!remove everything change your subs. make sure your rock and subs are not inert - meaning it doesn't change ph and gh. by the way corals gives high gh

test your subs or rocks by droping vinegar on the material, when it fizzes or reacts it cant be used.

[Broddan]

What is GH of your tapwater? This is the total hardness of your water. Its pretty easy to get higer but to lower it you need to use reverse osmos or chemically modify the water, all this should be done in an external container and not directly in the tank.

In any case i dont belive you need that deep layer of coral chips/sand a couple of centimeters should do it. But probably are your tapwater pretty high from start.

[avex30]

If you use coral sand you shouldn't need to add coral chips also maybe your can remove that big chunk of coral from your tank it does contribute alot to your GH uprise. That why i choose a inert sand and gravel and just use coral chips to buffer the GH that way you could better control the GH. Now it will be a total mess to try to do anything. Unless you have a spare tank to move your tank resident out so you can do a quick reset. You will be using back your old media so the process should be faster. But you might suffer some lost other than that i don't think there is any other method to remedy the GH problem you encounter. You might want to consider converting your tap water thru a filteration system but this will remove i would say majority of mineral in the water turning it into R.O water system.

[retardo]

The best way to have buffered the GH in the tank was to use coral chips in the filter. The combination of coral sand and coral chips is definitely driving up the GH. There is no real way to bring it down especially with the amount of sand and chips you have in there, even if you used all RO water.

[smdanng]

All right guys thanks for all the advise. I have removed all the coral chips and did a 30% water change then 50% water change next day then a 70% change next day. GH dropped from 18 to 15 to 13 to 7. I used RO water pH7.0, GH 1,KH 0.
Currently it's been 5 days now after water changes. Parameters: pH8.0, kH3,GH7,NH3/4 0.0mmgh. I have placed back all heteropodas back after 3rd change, also added Mosura Shizzen Power,Bioplus,BT9,Rich water. I held back Mineral plus to see what will be GH next few days. So far shrimps doin fine with the cycling, hopefully can add Sulawesi soon:)

[smdanng]

I cannot understand why you would use coral sand and coral chips in a shrimp tank? You will not get the parameters you need until you remove BOTH of them and put in a proper substrate.
Hi can you recommend a proper substrate for Sulawesi shrimps? I need one that gives me pH7.5 at least
Thank you

[smdanng]

Hi everyone
Day 12( after removal of coral chips)Parameters update: pH 8.0 kH 3.0 NH3/4 0.0 GH 7.0:)
No casualties, plus spotted some neocaridina heteropoda shrimplets:)
Goin to buy my first Sulawesi Commandoes.
I'm thinking of getting some Matano rocks and Sulawesi Sponge rocks but worried about GH problem.
Any suggestions?

[smdanng]

Hi everyone
Day 12( after removal of coral chips)Parameters update: pH 8.0 kH 3.0 NH3/4 0.0 GH 7.0:)
No casualties, plus spotted some neocaridina heteropoda shrimplets:)
Goin to buy my first Sulawesi Commandoes.
I'm thinking of getting some Matano rocks and Sulawesi Sponge rocks but worried about GH problem.
Any suggestions?

[Jovel]

hmm, where do you get those matano and sponge rocks anyway?

[Slayer213]

Hey guys, yishun 628 has both rocks, but quite ex... I use only coral sand... Ph was 7.8, so i added coral chips in the filter. Now ph is ard 8.2.. Gh 6 kh 6. Hope this helps. Btw, i use many dragon rocks and two mineral stones....