Nicki Gaga
Aquarium Advice Freak
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2014
- Messages
- 235
If they both tell you the acidity or alkalinity of the water , what's the point of knowing both? And why are there tests for each?
If they both tell you the acidity or alkalinity of the water , what's the point of knowing both? And why are there tests for each?
But if I test the pH, wouldn't that test the gH too because if the pH is low, does it also mean the gH is low too?
There is typically a relationship between Hardness and pH. Hard water results in high pH and soft water usually means low pH... usually, but not always. When you're testing your waters hardness, what you're actually checking is the water's pH stability... or how likely it is to change. A pH that suddenly raises or drops is not healthy for your fish. Knowing the water's hardness allows you to be prepared for such things.
Here's a fun fact though: Nobody's forcing you to do this. You asked if GH and pH were the same thing. They are not. Question answered. Now that you (hopefully) have a better understanding of what they are and how they relate to keeping fish, you can decide for yourself if you want to test either, both or neither.
BBradbury: Not helpful. If you don't know the answer to somebody's post, then feel free to not reply. In this case, the OP asked what, if any, difference there was between GH and pH. Your answer was to tell him to do large, weekly water changes (your favorite thing to Copy and Paste it seems). Not really sure what the removal of nitrate has to do with pH and GH.
But if I test the pH, wouldn't that test the gH too because if the pH is low, does it also mean the gH is low too?
Hello Nick...
The only water testing needed is during the nitrogen cycle. Once the bacteria colony is established, the tank is cycled. From this point on, you remove half the tank water or more weekly and replace it with pure, treated tap water. No testing is really needed, because the toxins are always removed through the weekly water change. The water chemistry is always stable.
B
Hello Nick... The only water testing needed is during the nitrogen cycle. Once the bacteria colony is established, the tank is cycled. From this point on, you remove half the tank water or more weekly and replace it with pure, treated tap water. No testing is really needed, because the toxins are always removed through the weekly water change. The water chemistry is always stable. B
Hello Nick...
The only water testing needed is during the nitrogen cycle. Once the bacteria colony is established, the tank is cycled. From this point on, you remove half the tank water or more weekly and replace it with pure, treated tap water. No testing is really needed, because the toxins are always removed through the weekly water change. The water chemistry is always stable.
B
The fish keeping hobby does not require so much knowledge of chemistry. Most breeders I know concentrate on frequent water changes and proper feeding... Period.
On almost a daily basis I see newcomers get discouraged by being misled about their kH, Gh too hard, too soft, add this chemical and check some more, what chemistry set to own etc.
Sorry for the rant but way too much focus on silly water parameters and water chemistry.
The fish keeping hobby does not require so much knowledge of chemistry. Most breeders I know concentrate on frequent water changes and proper feeding... Period.
On almost a daily basis I see newcomers get discouraged by being misled about their kH, Gh too hard, too soft, add this chemical and check some more, what chemistry set to own etc.
Sorry for the rant but way too much focus on silly water parameters and water chemistry.
Except that all of those "silly water parameters and water chemistry" are important. Internet forums such as this one are full of people wondering why their 20 Cardinal Tetras died in their tank that is pH 8.2 and 20 dGH. Or people who don't understand why their GBRs keep dying in their well water that contains 20 ppm nitrates. Or people who are on their second month of cycling, at pH 5.8 and 68 degrees F. All of those egghead parameters are important. If more people took the time to educate themselves about their meaning and put in the time/effort to ensure proper water conditions for their fish, far fewer fish would die.