How do you read API pH test?

[anewbie]

I tested using the KH test (even though it is out of date) and it took 10 drops so 10dKH. How accurate do you think this could be?

How to you determine how much of the TDS are calcium/magnesium ions and how much are calcium carbonate? Or is it just a predictable ratio?

While the test might be bad because it is out dated 10dkh would line up with 8+ ph so it might not be that inaccurate. And yes this is not great water for any south american fish - i would look for some nice central american fish as there are several very interesting ones though they prefer lower temperatures.

 

[FishFriend0]

Will she still live a long, happy life?

 

[anewbie]

Will she still live a long, happy life?

Long is relative - she might live 5 years instead of 10 or 20 years.

 

[FishFriend0]

So should I rehome her or take her back to the shop or should I keep her?

 

[anewbie]

So should I rehome her or take her back to the shop or should I keep her?

Well i put it like this - she is a domestic fish that should have cost pennies as they are easy to breed; everyone in your area likely has hard water so if you return her someone else with hard water will pick her up.

Unless it was a major expense for you i would just keep her and look for some fishes that prefer harder water as there are a lot of options mostly from centra america and african lakes (though the two populations should not be mixed).

 

[Back in the fold]

Blue is alkaline . That’s all you need to know . Don’t worry about pH , you can’t change it . That’s my experience anyway . It always goes back to what it was after you tinker with it . The ONLY way you could ever change it is to use pure distilled water doctored to where you want it and keep plenty of it stored for water changes . That’s just not practical .