Water Hardness

[Biulu]

Hi,

I tested my water today as I do regularly, and noticed that the hardness is around 30! I couldn't believe it, so I tested again, and again it came out that high!

So I tested also the bottled water (here in Mexico, we can't use tap water) that I also use for my tank, and the hardness is only 5.

Where does this difference come from, and what should I do lower it?

Extra info: I came back from holidays a week ago, and I had used vacation food during that time. I got the leftovers out, did a gravelvac and added and changed water.

 

[jarcher1390]

what is your pH that is the most important thing and i'm guessing this is KH your talking about have u added anything with calcium i.e. crushed oyster shell lime stone what is your substrate

 

[Biulu]

pH is 7, and it is the general hardness that is the highest.

Substrate consists of white gravel, particles of around 8 mm.

 

[Spooky76]

Your hardness is mostly due to your calcium content in the water, maybe from some limestone or chalk ?

Have you put anything new in the tank recently or accidentally ?

 

[Biulu]

No, the only thing I can think of is the vacation food, which looks like a calcium block in which food is dissolved. Should I do another vac and water change to try to bring it down?

 

[Luketendo]

Yes it's probably the vacation block, but I don't know much about Hardness yet so i can't really advise you.

 

[-germ-]

Yep, it'll be the vacation blocks, they are well known for doing this.
Just perform regular, but well spaced out (i'd guess at every 20% every 6 hours or so) small water changes to bring it down nice and slowly to that of your bottled water.

 

[Biulu]

Hi Germ! Nice to see you around again! Thanks, I will start with the water changes then....