Gamique

i just set up a new planted tank(40g) with about 3 inches of Eco-complete as a substrate, my Tap water's kH is 40 ppm and the kH in my tank 36 hours after set up is 75 ppm .

Right after set up i adjusted my pH contoller to 6.3 according to my tap water's kH this should give me about 33 ppm of Co2 i did not test the tank's KH the plants where pearling .

The next day (this morning) i tested the kH and it was 75 ppm so i raised the set point on my pH controller to 6.6 to maintain CO2 near 30 ppm and i had very little pearling

So my question is :Should i adjust my Co2 levels according to my tap or tank water?

I did not add any buffers or chemicals to my tank other than tap water conditionner and some substrate fertilizer (www.aquariumplants.com) home brand

I have not started fertilizing yet. I will tommorow (third day after set up)

I have heavy plant load and no fish yet so i can't see if they are gasping

i ordered a powerhead to add some surface movement i have close to none

At first i tought there could be some limestone build up in my hot water tank i had only tested the cold water before (I had limestone build up at my previous home raising both kH and gH) but that was not the case here exact same kH of 40 ppm

So i put the set point on the pH controller back to 6.3 and the pearling started right away??? (i guess that answers my question but what about the the kH ?) and the O2 bubbles are trapped under the surface scum

Could all the pearling issue be simply the lack of surface movement , gaz exchange?

gH 100mg/l
kH 75 mg/l
NO2 ~ 0.3 mg/l
NO3 ~ 7 mg/l

Any and all tips and suggestions will be gladly accepted as it is my first High light (4.5 watts/Gallon) co2 injected PMDD planted tank

skratikans

for a 40g tank...4.5 wpg is very high, I would cut that in half

as for kH inc with the use of Eco complete...I have personally never witnessed it...its due to your tap water composition and the pH change

As for pH, I would personally not bother tinkering with it, fish and plants will do fine in the pH that they are in