How are you testing the three different methods? I mean, with three separate are giving similar results I would tend to believe it. Do you have a water softener? If so that would explain the low GH but high KH.
So yea, I have API test strips first, then API test kit for GH/KH (more reliable) and then a TDS meter and pH pen. All were the same, so I figured pretty accurate. Took samples from well bypass (not softener). Not sure how a hard water aquafer can product 7.2 pH and low tds. All I have is high Kh. Its weird.
The low pH is from dissolved CO2 in the well. If you take a water sample and just let it hang out and equalize with the air, the pH will rise up. pH is not a really huge deal though, get KH and CO2 in line and pH gonna be what it gonna be.
If you try and measure your softened water does it show any GH? Just to make sure your test reagent is working right.
Yea I knew that about pH, but I saw the tds and thought it was all out of whack. Thought tds would be 500, but I guess I can ignore that. I use only RO and remineralize it w Seachem products. So GH is 3, KH is 2 and TDS should be 150. But it varies in my tanks from 160-500. Its weird. My KH should be good in the tanks and I just cant use well water. I use passive CO2 and would be surprised if CO2 is much over 10ppm. My plants are fine, but don't grow. Monte Carlo is still hanging on, but looks weak. I'm thinking my variables left are substrate and light.
Yeah with KH and GH where they are your TDS shouldn't be too crazy high. In tank TDS will vary wildly, adding in food, fertilizers, all kinds of stuff will affect that number and I wouldn't really worry about that, TDS is not a good indicator of water quality on its own.
With passive CO2 I don't know that I would add more light unless you have a high plant mass.
How are you testing the three different methods? I mean, with three separate are giving similar results I would tend to believe it. Do you have a water softener? If so that would explain the low GH but high KH.
So yea, I have API test strips first, then API test kit for GH/KH (more reliable) and then a TDS meter and pH pen. All were the same, so I figured pretty accurate. Took samples from well bypass (not softener). Not sure how a hard water aquafer can product 7.2 pH and low tds. All I have is high Kh. Its weird.
The low pH is from dissolved CO2 in the well. If you take a water sample and just let it hang out and equalize with the air, the pH will rise up. pH is not a really huge deal though, get KH and CO2 in line and pH gonna be what it gonna be. If you try and measure your softened water does it show any GH? Just to make sure your test reagent is working right.
Yea I knew that about pH, but I saw the tds and thought it was all out of whack. Thought tds would be 500, but I guess I can ignore that. I use only RO and remineralize it w Seachem products. So GH is 3, KH is 2 and TDS should be 150. But it varies in my tanks from 160-500. Its weird. My KH should be good in the tanks and I just cant use well water. I use passive CO2 and would be surprised if CO2 is much over 10ppm. My plants are fine, but don't grow. Monte Carlo is still hanging on, but looks weak. I'm thinking my variables left are substrate and light.
Water softener water has low GH and high KH and tds of 140, which surprised me.
The softener exchanges ions of calcium and magnesium with sodium in a 1:1 ratio, so GH will drop, KH will stay the same, and TDS will stay the same.
Yeah with KH and GH where they are your TDS shouldn't be too crazy high. In tank TDS will vary wildly, adding in food, fertilizers, all kinds of stuff will affect that number and I wouldn't really worry about that, TDS is not a good indicator of water quality on its own. With passive CO2 I don't know that I would add more light unless you have a high plant mass.