fishguy1978
Legendary Member
@whatthebloody and I were discussing the inability to maintain healthy specimens of Vals here in the P.S. area. I have Christel Kasselmann's book "Aquarium Plants" 2003, Krieger Publishing Co. and will reference her material from her collection of water and plant specimans. See page 41 and 435-440.
She made collections in the Rift lakes and New Guinea of Val sp. with the following water samples tested by Tetra Labs.
Lake T. Zaire
Ph 9.5
Temp 27c
Kh 18.4 degrees
Gh 11.03
Papua New Guinea samples
Ph 8.2
Temp 26c
KH 14
GH 8
The Vals growing in Lake T were shorter and in more protected locations like bays and coves. Specimens were typically 5cm with thick leaves. There were specimens growing close to rocks that obtained H= 40cm. The N.G. specimens were growing in a river with strong water movement and lengths over 2m.
Now I tested my water here in Fircrest this morning and came up with the following readings. This was from an API master test kit that is less than 2 years old and being a visual color test is sketchy on accuracy.
Ph 6.8-7.2 performed both high and low ph tests. Definitely lower than 7.4
KH 7-8 degrees (took 6-7 drops to change color)
GH 161.1 ppm (took 9 drops to change color)
My next step was testing 3 of my aquariums that are planted so I chose the 90g with sparse plants, the 29g standard with heavy plants, and the 30g BF with heavy plants. I performed a high and low ph test on each tank as I added a 1/2 tspn of baking soda to each planted tank yesterday regardless of tank volume. This disproportionate value will effect the outcome of this test.
90g
Ph 7.6-8.0
KH 6 (6 drops)
GH 161.1 ppm (9 drops)
29BF and 29g STD
Ph 7.6-8.0
KH 7 (7 drops to color change)
GH 161.1-179ppm (took 9 or 10 drops to color change)
Sample below not in above order. Low on LH, High on RH
Snips taken from API online PDF instructions for GH and KH test kit
She made collections in the Rift lakes and New Guinea of Val sp. with the following water samples tested by Tetra Labs.
Lake T. Zaire
Ph 9.5
Temp 27c
Kh 18.4 degrees
Gh 11.03
Papua New Guinea samples
Ph 8.2
Temp 26c
KH 14
GH 8
The Vals growing in Lake T were shorter and in more protected locations like bays and coves. Specimens were typically 5cm with thick leaves. There were specimens growing close to rocks that obtained H= 40cm. The N.G. specimens were growing in a river with strong water movement and lengths over 2m.
Now I tested my water here in Fircrest this morning and came up with the following readings. This was from an API master test kit that is less than 2 years old and being a visual color test is sketchy on accuracy.
Ph 6.8-7.2 performed both high and low ph tests. Definitely lower than 7.4
KH 7-8 degrees (took 6-7 drops to change color)
GH 161.1 ppm (took 9 drops to change color)
My next step was testing 3 of my aquariums that are planted so I chose the 90g with sparse plants, the 29g standard with heavy plants, and the 30g BF with heavy plants. I performed a high and low ph test on each tank as I added a 1/2 tspn of baking soda to each planted tank yesterday regardless of tank volume. This disproportionate value will effect the outcome of this test.
90g
Ph 7.6-8.0
KH 6 (6 drops)
GH 161.1 ppm (9 drops)
29BF and 29g STD
Ph 7.6-8.0
KH 7 (7 drops to color change)
GH 161.1-179ppm (took 9 or 10 drops to color change)
Sample below not in above order. Low on LH, High on RH
Snips taken from API online PDF instructions for GH and KH test kit
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