{"product_id":"aquavitro-carbonate","title":"AquaVitro Carbonate","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRaises KH without the pH spike a carbonate buffer usually brings.\u003c\/strong\u003e AquaVitro Carbonate stabilises carbonate hardness (KH) in the freshwater planted aquarium, which in turn holds pH steady and gives a CO2-injected tank a reserve to draw on. Seachem builds it from potassium bicarbonate rather than potassium carbonate specifically to keep the dosed solution closer to pH 8.2 instead of the roughly pH 11.5 a straight carbonate solution would produce, which matters when you are adding it directly to a tank with fish and plants in it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePotassium bicarbonate, not carbonate\u003c\/strong\u003e - the dosed solution sits near pH 8.2 rather than the ~11.5 a carbonate salt would produce, reducing the pH swing at the point of dosing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2,000 meq\/L (5,600 dKH) concentration\u003c\/strong\u003e - a small measured dose moves KH by a known amount rather than a guess.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlso supplies potassium\u003c\/strong\u003e - 78,300 mg\/L, a second macro nutrient plants use alongside the KH lift.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCO2 reserve for planted tanks\u003c\/strong\u003e - stable KH gives a CO2-injected system a buffer to draw against instead of pH swinging with every CO2 cycle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrom 4c per litre of tank water treated\u003c\/strong\u003e - see the size comparison below.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eActive constituent\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePotassium bicarbonate, 2,000 meq\/L (5,600 dKH); potassium 78,300 mg\/L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDose rate\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 mL per 60 L (15 US gal), weekly or as needed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEffect per dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRaises KH by 1 meq\/L (2.8 dKH) and potassium by 40 mg\/L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eReduced-dose guidance\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUse 1\/4 to 1\/2 dose in unbuffered water or tanks without CO2 injection, to limit pH movement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTarget range\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1-2 meq\/L (3-6 dKH), depending on plant preference\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater, planted aquarium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack sizes stocked\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150 mL, 350 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCost per litre of tank water treated\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSize\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDoses per bottle\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eLitres treated over the bottle's life\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePrice\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCost per litre treated\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e$19.95\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e350 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11.7\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e700 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e$33.95\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4c per litre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere the larger bottle genuinely is the better buy per litre treated - 4c against 6c - because the price does not scale linearly with volume between the two sizes. Buy the 350 mL if you dose regularly; the 150 mL suits an occasional top-up or a smaller collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDosage and directions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDose 30 mL per 60 L weekly, or as needed to hold KH in your target range. In unbuffered water, or any tank not running CO2 injection, drop to a quarter or half dose - full-rate dosing without CO2 to buffer against can push pH up more than a planted tank wants. Target 1-2 meq\/L (3-6 dKH) and adjust to what your particular plant selection prefers within that band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e freshwater planted aquariums, particularly CO2-injected setups that need a stable carbonate reserve to prevent pH swings between CO2 cycles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e tanks that already run high KH from tap water or substrate, and soft-water setups deliberately kept low in carbonate hardness for species like wild-caught tetras or apistogramma - raising KH here works directly against that water chemistry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCare and maintenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTest KH before and after dosing until you know how your specific tank responds - buffering capacity varies with stocking, substrate and existing tap water hardness. In an unbuffered or non-CO2 tank, start at a quarter dose and re-test rather than dosing to the full rate on the first attempt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/aquavitro-activate\"\u003eAquaVitro Activate\u003c\/a\u003e - phosphorus and potassium dosing for the same planted tank, on its own schedule.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/api-freshwater-master-multi-test-kit-5-in-1\"\u003eAPI Freshwater Master Multi Test Kit 5 in 1\u003c\/a\u003e - tests KH so you can dose to a confirmed reading rather than a guess.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-prime\"\u003eSeachem Prime\u003c\/a\u003e - dechlorinates tap water at every water change, independent of KH dosing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a consumable liquid additive, Carbonate is not covered by a manufacturer warranty term in the usual sense; your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply to any product that is faulty or not as described. It is not a dangerous good or oversized item and ships as standard parcel freight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy potassium bicarbonate instead of potassium carbonate?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA potassium carbonate solution sits around pH 11.5, which is a serious pH spike to introduce directly into a stocked tank. Potassium bicarbonate lands near pH 8.2, giving a far smaller shock at the point of dosing while still raising KH.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDo I need to dose less if I'm not running CO2?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Seachem's own guidance is a quarter to half dose in unbuffered water or any tank without CO2 injection, because there is less buffering capacity to absorb the change and pH can move further than intended at the full rate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill this affect my soft-water or blackwater tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, and not in the direction you want. Carbonate raises KH, which works against the low-hardness water soft-water species are usually kept in. It is intended for tanks where a higher, more stable KH is the goal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhich size is better value?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 350 mL bottle, at 4c per litre treated against 6c for the 150 mL. Buy the smaller size only if you dose occasionally and don't want the larger bottle sitting half-used.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AquaVitro","offers":[{"title":"150 mL","offer_id":55250156028195,"sku":null,"price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"350 mL","offer_id":55250156060963,"sku":null,"price":33.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/aquavitro-carbonate-150ml-3001477-1600_de72a4e7-8469-4749-afe4-8c31ce9429e4.jpg?v=1781837896","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/aquavitro-carbonate","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}