Need assistance deciphering my water parameters with the API master test kit

[cadd]

I tested my tap water with the following results. What does it all mean? My goal is to set up a 55g community tank with some live plants.

PH: 7.6
High PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5

GH: 14 drops needed to turn from orange to green
KH: 9 drops needed to turn from blue to yellow

 

[Essjay]

Your results mean that you have hard alkaline water, and it does not have any ammonia or nitrite. Your nitrate, at 5, is nice and low. TThis will make it much easier to keep the tank nitrate nice and low once you have fish.

As for pH, the 'ordinary' one shows the highest reading while the high range shows 7.8. The high range tester is the one you need to use.
But you also need to let a glass of water stand for 24 hours then test it. You will probably find the pH has changed a bit. You need both pH's, freshly run and water that has stood.


You need to look at fish that like hard alkaline water. This includes all the common livebearers, central American cichlids, Rift Lake cichlids, some species of rainbowfish (some species prefer soft water so check up on any you like) and even some tetras.