I've still never had a problem with root rot that wasn't caused by a disconnected or pinched air line or a bad air pump.
I've never worried about water temperature, keeping things sterile, or beneficial bacteria stuff.
I still don't get it after all this time.
What is the point? If your...
Essential depot potassium hydroxide flakes.
14mg per 4 gallons is about how much battery acid I need to get the carbonates out of my well water. pH will just stay above 7 otherwise.
Plants can take up ammonium directly and quickly use it as nitrogen, but at the cost of blocked potassium uptake (and other cations) which causes symptoms we know as N toxicity.
It can help regulate pH because of what atomizer said, but you will quickly run into problems if you add too much...
I know it doesn't help you much, but if I knew I always had to use lots of pH up, I'd use less KNO3 and K2PO4 and more KOH. I'm not lucky enough to have this problem though (hard water).
Yes, KOH is 69.7% K by mass. When multiplied by K2O conversion factor (for NPK rating), KOH is 0-0-83.6.
NaOH would add unneeded sodium which antagonizes potassium uptake.