My tank is located in our partially finished basement which has builder grade (read crappy) windows. The exterior walls are currently unfinished but we have some interior wall setup to create "rooms." The basement also only has one HVAC vent to heat/cool it. As a result, in the winters it would get really cold in the basement. So, years ago, I used plastic window sheeting and double stick tape to add an extra layer of protection which really helped keep the basement warmer.
In the past, I was struggling to maintain pH in my tank. I was historically around 7.8 even dosing Soda Ash and Kalk. During the remodel of the basement, once I got to the unfinished wall where the windows are located to start framing that wall, I took the plastic down. Since then, I have not had to dose Kalk at all. I dose much less soda ash (to maintain alkalinity) and my pH has maintained between 8.2-8.5.
In the past, I was struggling to maintain pH in my tank. I was historically around 7.8 even dosing Soda Ash and Kalk. During the remodel of the basement, once I got to the unfinished wall where the windows are located to start framing that wall, I took the plastic down. Since then, I have not had to dose Kalk at all. I dose much less soda ash (to maintain alkalinity) and my pH has maintained between 8.2-8.5.
