Did first test on water...HELP!!

[JCason]

I just purchased a test kit, a Tetratest Laborett and got the following parameters

PH 8
GH <1 degrees dH
KH 32 degrees dH
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0

I am just beginning to get in depth with my aquarium and I'm going to go planted. This is the first time I have ever tested the water in 2 years (shame on me). I was looking for my co2 content but no tables go to 32 degrees KH. Also, it says in the kit gh should be from 6-16 and KH should be 3-10. I did both tests twice to make sure of accuracy. What can I do? I have no fish loss at all. Tank is a 29 gallon with a fluval 304 filter, PC 65watts 6700K. I currently have 7 guppies, 3 swordtails, 3 SAE, 2 otos, and 5 ghost shrimp. Is something wrong? Will plants grow in this water?

[Matt W]

According to the calculator on this page:

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm

you are at 9.6ppm co2. That kh does sound high though!

[djlen]

Try this. Take a sample of your water and set it aside for tonight.
That will give it an opportunity to gas off. In the morning run tests on everything. If the tank is established and has been with fish in it, there's probably no reason to run ammonia or nitrite tests.
Instead of following the directions for one drop equals one dH on your gH and kH tests do this. Double up on the amount of water in your test tube and count two drops equal one dH. This will give you a more accurate value. Example: 10 drops = 5dH. or 9 drops = 4.5dH. If you are careful with the drops and the results are still off the chart, check the freshness date on the box cause there's something wrong. This is for the kH and gH only. The pH test should be according to the directions.
If you suspect the kit is out of date, take it back to the LFS and ask them to run a kH test on a sample of their water with your kit and watch how they do it. If it comes out right, you'll learn what you're doing wrong. If it's wrong ask them to give you an in- date kit.
No one can tell you if plants will grow in your water with incorrect values.

Len

[JCason]

Just ran the test with 10ml of water and it took 63 drops=31.5 degrees. Kit is in date, just received it in today off of backorder from Drs. Foster and Smith. I have another sample sitting that I will test tomorrow. With this high of a KH would it be hard to do co2 injection?

[Matt W]

Have you tested straight tap water? What are the results from that?

[djlen]

Take a sample of water to your LFS and ask them to test it for kH and gH and see what their results are.

A higher kH is more stable and makes the addition of CO2 safer for fish, but I don't think these results are accurate.

Len

[JCason]

Just tested the tap water, I'm keeping up with the post :D

GH 0
KH 25.5

Any other info needed I will post ASAP.

[Matt W]

That's a large difference between tap and tank...I would be interested to see the results of tap left to sit out over night. My suspicions tell me the KH will be even lower.....

What all is in this tank? Any rock? Sounds like something is raising that KH up....

[JCason]

Tank has been established for about 2 years. As for what is has, 1 cave rock formation, 1 piece fake driftwood with cave, gravel substrate (nothing fancy) 4 fake plants, 3 live plants anubius nana and 2 unknown and nothing else. I have pretty much cleared it out of fake plants to get ready to plant it. I have some tap water and tank water sitting to test in the morning.

[JCason]

Test on water left sitting overnight

aquarium water

gh <1
kh 30.5

Tap water

gh <1
kh 24

[29gallonsteve]

You need to test the "overnight" or "outgassed" sample for pH. GH/KH will not change overnight, but if you put an air pump in a tank and tap supply of water over a few hours, then test, you will see a difference in pH.

The "outgassed" pH is what we are interested in at this point.

Thanks,
Steve

[JCason]

LFS also got the same as I did on the KH and GH. I will get some more water and tst the pH later when I get home from work. However, I also used my jungle fizz factory today to add some co2 to the water until I get my co2 tank.
FWIW The LFS said the water company here uses a water softener which explains the low GH but also raise the pH of the water. If I remember correct the told me this is to help with copper piping for some reason?? They gave me so much info I needed to write it down. Too bad no one there has done planted tanks to help me with these problems, they all only do cichlids and saltwater.

[djlen]

Sorry about all the hubub about the kH/gH values. I've just never seen anything like that kind of swing between the two.
But if correct, you are going to have little problem with CO2.
If you mentioned your pH reading, I missed it, but you can use the chart and/or the calculator on the page that Matt sent you a link for to determine your ppm and adjust your needle valve accordingly to obtain 20 - 30ppm.
Did he say what they use to soften the water? Some chemicals can affect test kit results.
I hope you'll keep us posted on the progress after you get the CO2 up and running.

Len