So i have noticed a while back that my water hardness is extremely high, like the darkest blue possible on an API test strip. I'd never really thought about it before as my prime concern being a "Newby" is to keep the Nitrite at 0 - Nitrates low and the PH stable.
However i am now wondering why on earth my GH is somewhere round the 180 mark. i tested the tap water last night and it's at about 30, so something in my tank is making it extremely hard.
My initial thoughts were the couple of stones/rocks in the tank, so i removed them last night. if that fails then i am guessing it could only be the gravel substrate. Am i likely to see a rapid decline in GH removing the stones, if they are the issue?
Am i missing something? could my filter need media changing or something along those lines? i haven't changed the carbon pads or foam in the filter since i got the tank (january) but they have been cleaned from time to time.
Any feedback would be helpful.
However i am now wondering why on earth my GH is somewhere round the 180 mark. i tested the tap water last night and it's at about 30, so something in my tank is making it extremely hard.
My initial thoughts were the couple of stones/rocks in the tank, so i removed them last night. if that fails then i am guessing it could only be the gravel substrate. Am i likely to see a rapid decline in GH removing the stones, if they are the issue?
Am i missing something? could my filter need media changing or something along those lines? i haven't changed the carbon pads or foam in the filter since i got the tank (january) but they have been cleaned from time to time.
Any feedback would be helpful.