I'm planning out an aquarium for my new home, and just did the tap water test. The pH is neutral. Copper, salt, ammonia, nitrate & nitrite all essentially absent, as I would have expected. The GH is about 3 degrees, but the KH is 17! So... Do I plan on "soft" water fish based on the low GH, or "hard" water fish according to the high KH?
Do "soft" water fish need low GH or KH (or both?)
- Thread starter Mothas
- Start date
Most fish are adaptable. Even though most tropical freshwater fish (with exceptions) prefer soft acidic water, most are fine with almost everything you throw at them. Some might not color up as nicely. Of course, a few species, like some South American cichlids, frex rams or discus, need soft acidic water in order to thrive. But generally, you are fine. Only if you intend to breed certain species, look at the conditions they need for that.
i think you would be fine with most fish in that range of water hardness.i keep soft water fish in moderate to hard water with no problems.you want a fairly high kh.thats what will keep your ph steady.fish can adjust to gh.but not ph swings-[kh]good luck.....Mothas said:
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There are quite a few New World cichlids(South American) that thrive in 'soft' water. ie: Discus, Angels,Rams,Festivum are a few examples.
your pH,kH,gH are fine for those species.
your pH,kH,gH are fine for those species.