Very Excited

[PDSimon]

I couldn't explain it, not very well anyway, Its very sciency and a bit boring too.

Basically I just got a test kit, tested my water and got 3KH and 6GH

3KH is carbonate hardness and GH is general hardness

KH is to do with the buffering capacity of the water which is its ability to resist changes in pH. So my water for example with 3KH (which is quite low for KH) dropped when I put that bogwood considerably because it can't resist changes to pH.

Now I think GH is the amount of dissolved minerals in the water but i'm not too sure. General hardness and carbonate are interlinked but its not that important... its just because generally if you have alkaline water its got more minerals in it.

so from getting the test kit it told me that my water will easily change and that the GH is moderately soft.........

 

[Twinklecaz]

Oh I see. So maybe my KH is low too.

Raa, I don't know what to do now.

 

[PDSimon]

south american fish are so much better anyway

I kid, what did you say your tap pH was?

There are easy ways to higher your pH and kH... like crushed coral but I 'think' if you were using things like that, it would be best to keep alkaline (7.5+) or possibly 7-7.5 for fish that like those conditions

 

[Twinklecaz]

It's 7.6ish. That's why I've never even thought about it.

Plus I thought that the PH etc was something that most fish would adapt to anyway which is why they say the KH and GH tests aren't that important.

 

[PDSimon]

They do.. but some species more than others, like my 2 rams wouldn't do well in 7.5+ but they could acclimitise to 7.6 but if you put bogwood in there, it would possibly bring the pH down a bit

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yeah I knew Rams were senstive but thought Platys were one of those fish that would be ok.

and I think the others I want all prefer slightly softer/neutral water anyway. I think.

 

[PDSimon]

it was just an example... I'm not to sure about platys.

 

[Twinklecaz]

PH is still 7.6........

 

[Liverbird36]

Can hardness of the water effect the type of fish you can have ??

 

[PDSimon]

well generally the hardness will follow what kind of pH you have... hard water is alkaline and soft water is acidic

 

[Twinklecaz]

Simon you know I'm thick.....does that make 7.6 slightly hard or slightly soft?

 

[PDSimon]

It is to borderline

mine is 7.5 and is very soft! but it could be hard.

All you need to keep in mind is pH generally... african malawi lake cichlids prefer like ~8+ but south american prefer 7 or less... most fish can get used to neutral pH's though

 

[Liverbird36]

It is to borderline

mine is 7.5 and is very soft! but it could be hard.

All you need to keep in mind is pH generally... african malawi lake cichlids prefer like ~8+ but south american prefer 7 or less... most fish can get used to neutral pH's though

My ph is the same as caz's I have trouble with limescale does that effect the fish ??

Have just looked up the list of fish you gave me and are loving the bolivian rams and the sparkling gouramis

 

[PDSimon]

I'm not the person to ask about that stuff I have no idea

I don't remember giving you a list

 

[Liverbird36]

I'm not the person to ask about that stuff I have no idea

I don't remember giving you a list

No not you !!!! Twinklecaz !!!

She's helping me with some stocking suggestions lol