Just Tested My Water For Hardness

[CezzaXV]

Hey all,

I've been struggling with soft water that's been causing my pH to swing about the place. I bought a GH/KH test kit from API and tested it today. It confirmed that my water is really, really soft.

My tank water measures 2 degrees dKH and 35.8ppm GH/KH (I have been using bicarb to raise my pH when I need to).

I dechlorinated some tap water and it measured 1 degree dKH and the same on the ppm GH/KH.

I have no idea what any of this means to be honest, but I do want to add some crushed shells or something to my filter to try and stop my pH swinging about so much. However, I don't want it to cause problems when I change my water if there's a massive difference between the hardness of tank and tap water.

Advice?

 

[HayzH]

thats all gobble de goop to me ...... sorry!

 

[CezzaXV]

Anyone? From what I can see I have three options.

1. Add some crushed shells to the filter for a small trickle effect.
2. Use calcium carbonate for an immediate GH/KH boost. Not sure if this would be unstable?
3. Not do anything and hope for the best.

 

[CezzaXV]

Nobody? I'm leaving for the LFS in a minute!

 

[StandbySetting]

Use crushed coral, for water changes just add bicarbonate of soda to bring the hardness up and ultimately the pH so that it matches that of the tank.

 

[phocoena]

Did you just do the one test or did you do both?
The results can be used for both in either format so I am rather confused as to what the results actually mean

 

[CezzaXV]

I did both tests.