Water Hardness

[Robris]

I hear everyone mentioning what their water hardness is, my question is how do I check to see what mine is? I have heard of GH, KH etc, what are they also?

Cheers, Rob

 

[dthoffsett]

You can buy test kits for GH & KH. GH stands for general hardness and KH stands for carbonate hardness.

Heres a great article on what is found in your water that explains better.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=59467&st=0

 

[Robris]

thanks alot dthoffset

 

[vinylman]

Actually, the best and cheapest way you can find out about water hardness in your area is to look at the local water companies' website. I know the one for my area in the UK has a section for fishkeepers; it's particularly useful for people about to start keeping fish, as you can find out which fish will suit the local water best. I'd imagine that would be the case for most countries.

 

[dthoffsett]

I'm glad your water report is accurate, because mine was completely off. Here, it really depends on what part of town you live in. At my mom's house the PH is around 7.5 and the KH is pretty high (can't remember the exact ammount). At my house (only about 5 miles away), the PH is 8.2 and KH is around 4ppm. Huge difference. That's why I advocate checking your water yourself.

 

[Lorna]

The PH is my tank keeps rising to 8.0 even though the tap PH is 7.4. Even if I lower the PH it will still rise again to 8.0, its happened too in my goldfish tank. I have tested all the plants and ornaments in the tank and there is nothing in there to increase the PH at all. I have put bogwood in there to try to lower it but that still hasnt worked. does anyone know why? I was reading something on the web about minerals ions in the H2O which will always change the PH back to whatever they are, does anyone know anything about this? and that you have to buy an ioniser machine thingy to put in the tank to help this Couldn't you just use deionised water??