[Drop Checker reading in tank with high KH]

2 minutes ago, CT_ said:

Oh, my understanding with the drop checkers is you need to use RO or DI or Distilled (close to pure water) then buffer the kh up to 4 and add the ph indicator.  I think green indicated with your tank water would be something crazy like 150ppm co2.

EDIT: or just buy the premixed indicator water, if you want the easiest way.

I had read that elsewhere as well, but the instructions that came with the drop checker just said to add 1.5ml of tank water to the ph solution that came with it. 
 

The tank is only like three days old and isn’t anywhere near ready for livestock. It’s just plants right now. 
 

might be time for a different drop checker... or at the very least some 4 dKH water and try again

[Drop Checker reading in tank with high KH]

 

26 minutes ago, CT_ said:

It shouldn't assuming you didn't use tap water in your drop checker.  I'd try to move it closer to your co2 source just as a test to see if you put it in a stagnant area.  Also I'd think you'd want to keep the highest co2 location below the supposed 30ppm limit not the furthest area, but I'm not a co2 guy so maybe that's wrong.

I used tank water, not tap water - Moving the drop checker was my next move, I was just following the instructions provided. It’s my first time using one, so any input helps. 
 

I appreciate it

[Drop Checker reading in tank with high KH]

So I'm running pressurized CO2 on my Fluval V. This is my first attempt at pressurized Co2 (I've done DIY before). I put a drop checker in on the opposite side of my diffuser, and it's still reading blue (low CO2). I'm currently running almost 3 BPS and thought that might be a little much and was surprised to see the drop checker reading "low" still.

I'm on well water and the KH is at 19dKH (340.1ppm) - will having a high KH effect the drop checkers reading ability?

[Aquario Neo Co2 kit]

Curious if anyone has any experience with the Aquario Neo CO2 kit - I see Aquarium Co-op sells the diffuser, but has anyone given the full kit a go?

Looking for a simple CO2 options for my office Fluval Spec V

 

 

 

[Crazy hard water - Use it or remineralize? (planted tank)]

14 hours ago, Patrick_G said:

I’m just a beginner but isn’t 143.2 ppm near the low end of what’s considered hard? I’m just using my test strips chart as a reference. 

My GH is within a fairly normal range. It’s my KH that is literally off the chart. My test kit only went up to 12dKH

[Crazy hard water - Use it or remineralize? (planted tank)]

Looking for some input on whether I should just use my tap water or use RO and remineralize for a planted tank.

out of the tap:

PH: 7.2 (ish)
Ammonia:0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 2-5ppm
GH: 143.2 (8 dKH)
KH: 340.1ppm (19 dKH)
 

just to make things a little more interesting, our tap water often has a very strong sulfur smell to it, not sure how that will effect things.

 

Does anyone see any issues with using water this hard (aside from limiting what livestock can be kept)? Anything I should look out for or be concerned about. My initially concerns are having way too much nutrients and just having an algae bomb waiting to happen. On the other hand I've never used RO water in freshwater applications and am not sure what products to use to achieve a desired chemistry. 

Long story short, I'm setting up a 5 gallon Fluval Spec V in my office, but we're on well water with incredibly hard water 
It's been a while since I've done freshwater and plants. I'm just getting back into it after keeping salt water for a while (so I still have my RO/DI unit and all that jazz. So I'm not concerned about equipment) BUT being an office tank - I'm not in everyday of the week so I want to keep it fairly low key, while still giving everything my best effort, and without cutting corners.



I appreciate any insight


Thanks!