Do I need a Kh and Gh test kit?

I’ve been using API’s freshwater master test kit and never really thought to look into other chemical tests. I’ve just recently heard about Kh and Gh testing, should I have those as well?

 

I’ve been using API’s freshwater master test kit and never really thought to look into other chemical tests. I’ve just recently heard about Kh and Gh testing, should I have those as well?

It's always good to have things on hand. If you want shrimp it is good to have for sure. Certain fish like hard or soft water too. Then you know exactly what your water is like.

 

I never test for Kh, Gh, or pH. Just ammonia when I'm cycling & then nitrates when established. If you're fish are consistently getting sick or dying, it'd be worth testing Kh, Gh, & pH.

 

Testing your tank water and your source water once to know what the values are is helpful. It's generally not something you need to test ongoing unless you are regularly adding things to the water to reach/maintain certain levels.

 

Do you have a LPS that will do the test for you? In most cases it's not necessary to know the gH and kH but it's nice to know the basic properties of your water. It only has to be done one time and it's a shame to have to buy an expensive test kit to use just once. GH and kH don't change unless your water source changes or the water company add something to the water to prevent metal pipes from corroding.

 

Do you have a LPS that will do the test for you? In most cases it's not necessary to know the gH and kH but it's nice to know the basic properties of your water. It only has to be done one time and it's a shame to have to buy an expensive test kit to use just once. GH and kH don't change unless your water source changes or the water company add something to the water to prevent metal pipes from corroding.

I don’t know. I’m just curious because I’ve heard that either GH or KH helps keep the PH stable.

 

I don’t know. I’m just curious because I’ve heard that either GH or KH helps keep the PH stable.

If your pH changes all the time the KH keeps it stable. I would test it to see what it is. If it is the same all the time I wouldn't worry about it much.

 

Aquarium folk need to understand KH. So yes get that tested and learn how it works. The problem you will see on Fishlore is a tank with depleted buffers. That means KH is zero. This can kill an aquarium. So knowing your KH of your source water and tank is good to know for fish keeping.

GH is important for hardwater fish that need high GH. If you want to get into African cichlids you will need to know about GH.

 

I have found the API GH/KH test very hard to use. In fact I have never got a result that I understood. Its very difficult to look down into tube and adding drops to see a color change. Frustrating would be my thought on it.
I would also appreciate any other test for this thats easy.

 

Aquarium folk need to understand KH. So yes get that tested and learn how it works. The problem you will see on Fishlore is a tank with depleted buffers. That means KH is zero. This can kill an aquarium. So knowing your KH of your source water and tank is good to know for fish keeping.

GH is important for hardwater fish that need high GH. If you want to get into African cichlids you will need to know about GH.

I’m planning on having platies and guppies. The platy I currently have seems to be perfectly fine with the water (PH of 8.4 straight out of the tap, but around 8.0 I think in the aquarium). Is this 8.0 PH that I’m reading?

 

I’m planning on having platies and guppies. The platy I currently have seems to be perfectly fine with the water (PH of 8.4 straight out of the tap, but around 8.0 I think in the aquarium). Is this 8.0 PH that I’m reading?

A slight purpley tint so I would say 8.2