Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 38
  1. #1
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    2,464
    Thanks / Likes
    5204

    PH and KH increased

    After checking my water paramaters a couple of days ago the PH was looking quite weak compared to normal and the KH had dropped to 2 from its usual 5 so added some bicarb past two days at 100g per 1000 gallons, today PH back to its usual colour around 7.5 and the KH had increased to 5 so much better, just goes to show how easily these key parameters can drop away in your pond......


    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  2. Thanks Ajm, samp09, john1, Manky Sanke Thanked / Liked this Post
  3. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Quote Originally Posted by smartin View Post
    After checking my water paramaters a couple of days ago the PH was looking quite weak compared to normal and the KH had dropped to 2 from its usual 5 so added some bicarb past two days at 100g per 1000 gallons, today PH back to its usual colour around 7.5 and the KH had increased to 5 so much better, just goes to show how easily these key parameters can drop away in your pond......
    Glad you spotted it mate.

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  4. Thanks samp09, smartin, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  5. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Djstiles999's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Forest of Dean
    Posts
    1,327
    Thanks / Likes
    1859
    I reckon I test KH more than any other parameter. Luckily it’s a quick and easy test to do and with a normal KH of 3-4 the test bottle lasts ages too

  6. Thanks Ajm, smartin, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  7. #4
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,700
    Thanks / Likes
    15243
    Good to keep an eye on it Steve.

    Same as me DJ only needs a couple of drops.
    John

  8. Thanks Ajm, smartin Thanked / Liked this Post
  9. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    2,464
    Thanks / Likes
    5204
    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    Good to keep an eye on it Steve.

    Same as me DJ only needs a couple of drops.
    Hi John,
    how are you ? i hope your well, any thoughts on this summers solar heater? i plan on rebuilding mine using better materials than plywood to help with heat absortion / retention..... cheers Steve
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  10. Thanks john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  11. #6
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,700
    Thanks / Likes
    15243
    Quote Originally Posted by smartin View Post
    Hi John,
    how are you ? i hope your well, any thoughts on this summers solar heater? i plan on rebuilding mine using better materials than plywood to help with heat absortion / retention..... cheers Steve
    Fine here thanks Steve hope your all well.

    Binned the hose pipe and the board is in the garage,havnt given it much thought to be honest.

    Tighed up with building this drum but koi seem happy enough swimming about at the moment.
    John

  12. Thanks Ajm, smartin Thanked / Liked this Post
  13. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    Good to keep an eye on it Steve.

    Same as me DJ only needs a couple of drops.
    How many drops dose your tap water take? Mine just dosent go blue at all stright to yellow?! Pond only at 3 drops but ph in between 7 and 7.5 so still need to up a little

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  14. Thanks john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  15. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Djstiles999's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Forest of Dean
    Posts
    1,327
    Thanks / Likes
    1859
    Tap water goes straight to yellow - wow that’s not so good!

  16. Thanks john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  17. #9
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Quote Originally Posted by Djstiles999 View Post
    Tap water goes straight to yellow - wow that’s not so good!
    Done it a few times to check I was doing it right wasn't just a random thing. Yellow with the first drop

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  18. Thanks john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  19. #10
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,700
    Thanks / Likes
    15243
    Straight or sometimes 1 drop to yellow,pond usually kept around 3,due a check now come to think of it.
    John

  20. Thanks Ajm Thanked / Liked this Post
  21. #11
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    Straight or sometimes 1 drop to yellow,pond usually kept around 3,due a check now come to think of it.
    When you say straight or 1 drop. Am I ment to count the first drop

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  22. #12
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,700
    Thanks / Likes
    15243
    Yes Aj you count the first drop.
    John

  23. Thanks Manky Sanke, Ajm, Stephen01 Thanked / Liked this Post
  24. #13
    Senior Member Rank = Gosai Stephen01's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    London
    Posts
    278
    Thanks / Likes
    308
    Just tested my KH and it’s 9, I believe the higher the number the more stable it is right ????


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  25. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    When you say straight or 1 drop. Am I ment to count the first drop

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    John is correct. There is often confusion on Internet forums regarding how to do KH and GH tests and especially how to interpret the results. Apart from using different reagents the method is the same for either the KH or the GH test and is simple if you follow these five steps:


    1. Take the sample and, if the kit manufacture states that an initial reagent is required then add it, if not proceed to step 2 to determine the value of KH or GH.
    2. Add one drop of the test reagent at a time. Don’t shake vigorously to mix, simply swirl or use a plastic stirrer.
    3. Note the initial colour after the first drop and continue adding drops until the initial colour JUST BEGINS to change. (This is called the end point).
    4. Count all drops added in steps 2 & 3, including the first one. It is sometimes incorrectly stated on forums that the first drop should not be counted.
    5. The value of °KH or °GH is given by the number of drops used. (Multiply by 17.8 to convert to ppm / mg/L or see the table).


    The change is normally very abrupt but, in rare cases, if it is just on the edge of the transition from the initial colour to the final colour, it will be half way between the two and this can be confusing (see the end point diagram). If you aren’t sure if you have reached the transition you can add an extra drop to make certain. This will complete the colour change and confirm that the previous drop had already reached the end point but don't count this extra drop.

    Interpreting the results in degrees (KH or GH):

    Colour change happens after:
    1st drop the value is between 0 and 1.0 degrees
    2nd drop the value is between 1.0 and 2.0 degrees
    3rd drop the value is between 2.0 and 3.0 degrees
    And so on.

    A more precise way to measure the value, especially when the KH or GH is low is to use twice the recommended sample size then each drop counts as 0.5 degrees e.g.
    1st drop indicates 0 to 0.5 degrees
    2nd drop indicates 0.5 to 1.0 degrees
    3rd drop indicates 1.0 to 1.5 degrees
    And so on.

    For very low values, an even more precise way, is to use four times the recommended sample size, then each drop counts as 0.25 degrees. This is very accurate but uses a lot of reagent so is only suitable for low values. Using the usual recommended sample size so that one drop of reagent = 1 degree is sufficiently accurate for normal values of KH or GH.






  26. Thanks Djstiles999, Ajm, john1, Stephen01, smartin Thanked / Liked this Post
  27. #15
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Out the tap the first drop. (it's the api test) water slightly gos yellow. Out of the pond the water is blue on first drop and jumps very distinct yellow on the 3rd drop.

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  28. Thanks john1, Stephen01, smartin Thanked / Liked this Post
  29. #16
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,700
    Thanks / Likes
    15243
    Still safe Aj but I would raise it a little bit to be more safer.
    John

  30. Thanks Ajm, Stephen01, smartin Thanked / Liked this Post
  31. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    Out the tap the first drop. (it's the api test) water slightly gos yellow. Out of the pond the water is blue on first drop and jumps very distinct yellow on the 3rd drop.

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk

    Those results mean that your supply KH is below 1°KH. You can use the methods in my last post to find the exact value if you wish or just assume that your supply has a level of bugger all°KH and always add some sodium bicarbonate when you top up or do a water change to suit your chosen value of KH in the pond.

    Your pond KH is between 2°KH and 3°KH. You can run it at that level if you wish to take advantage of free RO water on tap and are prepared to spend the time to monitor it very frequently to make sure it doesn't suddenly fall and cause a pH crash, or you can increase it to between 5 and 7 which will cause the pH to rise nearer to 8.4

  32. Thanks Ajm, Stephen01, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  33. #18
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,220
    Thanks / Likes
    21135
    Added a touch more bicarb 1 hour ago. Just checked wide range pH is still 7.5.

    Kh is now very slight change at 3 drops full on yellow at 4.

    So has moved up a bit.

    I'll be going down the it's got bugger all and adding bicarb root I think lol

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  34. Thanks Stephen01 Thanked / Liked this Post
  35. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    Added a touch more bicarb 1 hour ago. Just checked wide range pH is still 7.5.

    Kh is now very slight change at 3 drops full on yellow at 4.

    So has moved up a bit.

    I'll be going down the it's got bugger all and adding bicarb root I think lol

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    If the KH test starts to change colour at 3 drops, that is where you have reached the end point so you have exactly 3°KH in the pond.

  36. Thanks Ajm, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  37. #20
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Somerset
    Posts
    6,653
    Thanks / Likes
    5635
    I would personally love to have tap water with no KH in it personally, so congratulations

    When I’m running RO I keep the KH at just below 2. That gives a pH of around 7.2 in my setup which is great for keeping any ammonia non toxic, and also gives good pH stability, without compromising the nitrite bugs who like to use carbonates to metabolise. Obviously don’t do this unless you are keeping an extremely close eye on it, or you have a pH controller to do that for you.

  38. Thanks Ajm, Stephen01 Thanked / Liked this Post
 

 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:32 PM. Online Koi Mag Forum
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Improved By vBFoster® (Lite Version), © UltimateScheme, Ltd.