GH and KH Help Please

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anteatergoanna

Aquarium Advice Freak
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I don't know anything much about gh and KH, but was told that if I use Seachem Buffer for the KH and Seachem Replenish for GH, that would stabilise the tank....is this right. What range should the Gh and KH be, I test it and don't know if my readings are in range. Would appreciate your advice...thanks
 
What are you testing with, strips or a liquid test kit? Liquid test kits are the most accurate. I use API Gh and Kh test kit which has tests for both. A reading of 4 with both is enough calcium and magnesium. Anything below that can cause problems especially with ph swings. You should test your tap water and tank water.
 
Thanks Rivercat, I don't have a test kit for either, just use the strips, which as you said aren't much good, reading is GH 30 and KH 0 in the tank, I used the last strip to get that reading, so not sure what the tap is. I will get the API test kit tomorrow.

Is there anything else that I need to check for? I do Ph, Amm, Nitrate, Nitrite.....
Appreciate your help
 
Should I add some crushed coral to the filter or a couple of shells in my tank, to raise the KH? My Ph range is 7.1-7.3, I don't want to alter that if I can help it. With the GH what sort of rocks should I put into the tank? Maybe I should use the products listed above, I am loathe to put chemicals in the tank though. OR, should I just leave well enough alone, fish are happy, active and feeding well. I am really lost with this
 
If you gh and kh are 4 or above you really don't need to do anything. Most fish and plants can acclimate and do just fine in a higher gh and kh. On the other than levels lower than 4 can cause problems with a stable ph and may not be providing enough calcium and magnesium for plants. If you want to increase kh using shells, crushed coral (in a filter), or even some rocks like Texas holey rocks will increase kh. If gh is too low I use MGSO4 Magnesium Sulfate.
 
I think the basic checks for a tank are constant temp, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, >20 nitrate, 4-6 Gh & 4-6 Kh. Test tap water after it's stood for 24 hrs so you know what you're adding on a water change. De chlorinate water before adding to tank. I like Gh and Kh to be about 6 but defo over 4. A very low Kh will cause your Ph to be unstable. I tend to control my Gh and Kh but allow Ph to become stabilised and chasing an ideal Ph with chemicals is not easy and the tank has a natural tendency to want to return to its natural Ph.
I advice the API test master liquid kit and the Kh/Gh kit. When you understand your water you can make informed decisions if you want to alter it.
Best of luck with your tank. Steve.
 
Hi, my reading are KH - 0 , GH - 30 (could be .30, I used a test strip ) My Ph ranges between 7.1 - 7.3. Temp is constant 26 deg. I was putting salt in the water, as advised byLFS but stopped that because I was told my loaches are sensitive to salt. I'm worried about the PH increasing if I add shells in the tank or coral. My readings are Nitrite - 0, PH 7.2 , Nitrate 10. I use Seachem prime to dechlorinate the water.
I don't use chemicals in my tank, tried that with a ph problem ages ago, didn't work) . How much Magnesium would I put in the tank Rivercats?
Thank you both Rivercats and ScottJudd for responding, willing to take any advice.
 
If you don't have a reading of 4 on kh you need to add the rocks, shells, or crushed coral till you reach that level or else you could have a sudden ph drop due to the lack of buffers in your tank. I doubt you have a gh of 30 and those test strips aren't reliable. I'd get the API liquid test kit for both and see where you are at especially on the gh. I wouldn't worry too much about adding anything for the gh until you get an accurate reading.
 
Thanks RC, I will get some crushed coral and put in the filter, would seashells in the actual tank do the trick? I have some really nice ones which would look great in the tank. The GH on the stick, it came up a bluey colour and had 30 next to it, but I will get a specific kit to test it, I know the strips aren't very good. Thanks again for your help.
 
Shells will work but regardless of what you use you need to monitor your gh/kh/ph so you can get it where you want, which means you may need to add or detract from the initial amount used.
 
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