Water Hardness

[blackcat]

What is hard water? Is this good or bad for my fish tank. I have a water hardness of about 200ppms of the Total Hardness of the water. I also wish that I could remove the white crust that grows around my fish tank that I understand is also a cause of it.

 

[Watcher74]

The traditional term 'hard' or 'soft' water relates to General Hardness (Gh). It meant how hard is was to produce a lather with soap using a particular type of water.

If it was hard to produce a lather...the water was hard.

If it was easy to produce a lather...the water was soft.

Carbonate hardness(Kh) is also another type of hardness.

Gh is what is meant when an animal/plant prefers hard or soft water.

Kh is what is meant by the buffering capability of water.

Gh is the level of Calcium/Magnesium in the water.

Kh is the level of Carbonates/Bicarbonates in the water.

They are in no way related.

Example: My tap water has 22 degrees of Kh and 1/2 degree of Gh.

 

[blackcat]

So what kind of water do I want for my fish, or is this just for plants?

 

[Watcher74]

Unless you have wild caught fish, or you are trying to breed your fish then it does not matter. Fish are quite adaptable and can handle large differences in water hardness.

Due to many beliefs that plants do not do well in hard water, many plant enthusiasts and experts dispute that belief.

So I would not worry about trying to adjust your water hardness. To do so would cause more harm than good.