Very High Gh/kh Readings From Tap Water?

[zesty]

Hi, I have just measured the gh and kh of my tap water using the API test kit.

I had to use 15 drops for the kh and that converts to 268.50 ppm and 16 drops for the gh and that converts to 286.40ppm.

Are these readings really high/bad or are they nothing much to worry about?

I take it that when I am ready for fish then I will only be able to choose fish suitable for very hard water or am I wrong?

Is RO water the only way I would be able to solve my hard water problem or are there other alternatives?

Thanks

 

[OldMan47]

If you have the usual mix of common aquarium fish, your tap water, which is much like mine, will be fine. If you are keeping some of the pickier soft water fish, it might be wise to set up a mix of tap water and RO but for most fish that will not be necessary. Your water is not very hard but would typically be characterized as moderately hard. It would be great water for most of the common livebearers and acceptable for lots of other fish too. My community tank has a betta, some rainbow cichlids, rasboras, black neons, platies, corydoras, glowlight tetras, black lace angels, mollies, a few plecos and they are all thriving in water like yours. The rainbow cichlids breed quite often but I seldom remove the fry and the rest of the community eventually gets them all. The one batch that I siphoned out is going to my club auction in a couple of weeks to be sold to other fish enthusiasts.

 

[zesty]

Thats good to know. I dont think that any of the fish I am interested in require soft water, but I was worried that my water was exceptionally hard.

Thanks

 

[OldMan47]

It is not at all soft water but is within a reasonable hardness for most fish.