What do I need to test GH and KH? I have a "master test kit' but all it tests is pH, Nitrate/ite, and ammonia. What else do I need?
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GH and KH question.
- Thread starter okief1sh
- Start date
Depending on what type of fish your trying to keep (how sensitive they are), your water supply, and your desire or need to duplicate the 'natural' waters the fish are use to, you might need to test for general hardness(gh) or carbonate hardness(kh). What you have now is your 'basic' test kit. There are tests for chlorine, calcium, carbon dioxide, carbonate hardness, general hardness, iron, phosphate & that's just for freshwater!! Other tests for saltwater include alkalinity, iodine, iodide, silicate & strotium. You probably won't need to test for all of these for most fish but make sure you test your water for the 'basics', ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph (h/l) & don't forget temp. Good LuckGh and KH normally don't need to be tested often for most fishkeepers. However, you do need to know what they are for your tap water. Most local stores will test for you once or twice if you bring in a sample of your water.
If you intend to lower your pH, then the KH is an integral part of that as the higher the KH, the more resistent to change in pH your water is. You need to know what it is in general for your tap as a low kh (below 3 dg or 53 ppm) can put you at risk of crashing your pH from the normal nitrogen cycle or from adding wood or other things that also tend to lower pH. If you do a planted tank to which you add co2, then you need the KH test kit to use with your pH test to determine co2 levels.
If you intend to lower your pH, then the KH is an integral part of that as the higher the KH, the more resistent to change in pH your water is. You need to know what it is in general for your tap as a low kh (below 3 dg or 53 ppm) can put you at risk of crashing your pH from the normal nitrogen cycle or from adding wood or other things that also tend to lower pH. If you do a planted tank to which you add co2, then you need the KH test kit to use with your pH test to determine co2 levels.