How important is GH

[IceH2O]

How important is GH to the fish tank and is it a problem that it rises during the week?

Mine goes from on average from 4.2 after a water change to 8.4 in a weeks time.

 

[Roan Art]

How important is GH to the fish tank and is it a problem that it rises during the week?

Mine goes from on average from 4.2 after a water change to 8.4 in a weeks time.

We'd need to know your pH and KH trends as well.

Roan

 

[RTR]

You may be using an inappropriate substrate or rocks, which are soluble and hardening you water. This mean that the osmolarity and the TDS (Total dissolved solids) of your water is effectively ~doubling during the week. At that rate the fish can adapt, but then when you partial the tank that sudden drop in osmotic pressure is potentially stressful for them, cyclicng every week. Not a good situation IMHO & IME.

Why is you GH shifting that much? That is not normal at all. You need to find out why this is happening.

 

[IceH2O]

We'd need to know your pH and KH trends as well.

Roan

All my water parameter info is on my members page or you can click the link to Ices Tank in my signature

 

[liv2padl]

you're very likely using rocks, decorations or gravel which are at least partially comprised of calcium/magnesium carbonate. these will slowly dissolve into your water, releasing both calcium/magnesium and carbonates. the cations (Ca ++) will elevate your gH while the anions (CO3-) will elevate both your pH and kH.

check your source of anions and cations ... gravel? rocks?

 

[IceH2O]

You may be using an inappropriate substrate or rocks, which are soluble and hardening you water. This mean that the osmolarity and the TDS (Total dissolved solids) of your water is effectively ~doubling during the week. At that rate the fish can adapt, but then when you partial the tank that sudden drop in osmotic pressure is potentially stressful for them, cyclicng every week. Not a good situation IMHO & IME.

Why is you GH shifting that much? That is not normal at all. You need to find out why this is happening.

Its normal aquarium gravel,the well water has a low GH which might attribute to it.I only do 25% WCs so I don't know why it would drop it as low as it does.There are no other rocks in there,only live plants and 2 ceramic decorations,aquarium safe,made by I believe Top Fin, that are about a month old.I don't know,but doubt they are the cause,because I had never done testing before they were put in.

Any other ideas on what could do it?

How would you check the gravel or any other potential problem for leakage?

edit:I should mention that the gravel has been in the tank for over 5 yrs.

 

[IceH2O]

you're very likely using rocks, decorations or gravel which are at least partially comprised of calcium/magnesium carbonate. these will slowly dissolve into your water, releasing both calcium/magnesium and carbonates. the cations (Ca ++) will elevate your gH while the anions (CO3-) will elevate both your pH and kH.

check your source of anions and cations ... gravel? rocks?

My PH 7 and KH 5.6 stay constant.

 

[RTR]

Dropping that much? You said that it was increasing - which is it?

 

[Lady G]

I think Ice was talking about the drop AFTER water changes....then it increases before the next change. I don't know but maybe more water changes like 2-3 a week instead of 1, then it seems you would be catching it before it has a chance to rise, maybe it would be more consistant? If I'm wrong about that someone will say so, but IMO that would work (help).

Good Luck!
Gin

 

[RTR]

The longer you put off the change, the greater the difference in the tank and the tap, so the greater the stress to the fish. The frequency for changes would be far better increased markedly to reduce the difference in source and tank rather than magnifying it. Better still would be to identify the cause and correct that - don't fix the symptoms, fix the problem.

HTH