First time testing my water...

[Byron]

NOT. It depends if you add in driftwood, almond leaves, etc. Knowing the GH from your tap is a great starting point, but it is not the end-all-be-all for the actual aquarium water quality. GH can also be affected by just topping off due to evaporation, etc depending on the mineral content of the water so it is not really static in a small volume aquarium. Typically fish put up with a very wide range which is why this parameter is less important unless you are trying to breed.

The GH of the source water is not likely to be shifting. That is what we need to know, and what I was attempting to get at. It is true that if the GH is specifically targeted in the aquarium, and depending upon what it is to begin with, it may change. Driftwood and leaves may or may not6 have any bearing on GH.

 

[Avel1896]

Before we start lowering GH or pH, which may not be necessary

Considering housed fishes it will be necessary to lower GH and KH..... but we still wait for answers to our questions. @rjbelles please ?

 

[Avel1896]

Could you post pictures of your tank to give us an overall view ?