What is Dkh?

What on earth is DKH ??? or something like that... I know PH, Nitrate, Nitrite, phosphate, Ammonia, ETC... But what is DKH.. is that like your water hardness ??? OR am I spelling it wrong... some thing with D.. K... H...

 

KH is a measurement of your waters buffering capacity (hardness)

this sticky I wrote explains it in a little more detail

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/changing-your-ph.28528/

 

KH is a measurement of your waters buffering capacity (hardness)

this sticky I wrote explains it in a little more detail

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/changing-your-ph.28528/

Thanks about this... so there is nothiing called DKH ???

I sware someone told me about DKH...

but anyways... IS 6.0 too low for PH... My PH is 6... I have no clue why thgh... one of the comments on your post about "hardness" talked about a ph of 6... but I have guppies and they are doing fine and stuff ( like having babies with no stress... no diseases ever since three years ago) thgh fin rotting might occur...

FIY: I have all the stuff you posted in your post... like Live plants, driftwood, ETC... is that why my ph is low...

OH and lastly how do "YOU" measure your water hardness ( buffering ) of your water.... or any other way to.... I would like to kno my water hardness...

 

DKH is Degrees of Carbonate Hardness. It's the measurement unit of KH.
For example, I have 6 DKH - my KH measurement is 6 degrees. The other measurement is ppm I believe.

API makes a supplimentary test kit for their freshwater master kit for measuring Kh and Gh.

I would leave your pH at 6.0, but be aware of what fish you plan to get as they may not like the acidic water. Most fish will adjust perfectly fine to your pH with a slightly longer than usual acclimation.

 

6 is not too low for guppies, just be sure to monitor your hardness and pH occasionally and keep up with your tank maintenance, as the lower your pH and hardness levels are, the closer your water is to being unstable on the low side. (yes driftwood and etc. lowers your pH)

I use liquid measuring tests for KH, this is the main thing to test for water hardness (buffering)

 

DKH is Degrees of Carbonate Hardness. It's the measurement unit of KH.
For example, I have 6 DKH - my KH measurement is 6 degrees. The other measurement is ppm I believe.

API makes a supplimentary test kit for their freshwater master kit for measuring Kh and Gh.

I would leave your pH at 6.0, but be aware of what fish you plan to get as they may not like the acidic water. Most fish will adjust perfectly fine to your pH with a slightly longer than usual acclimation.

THANK YOU BUBBLYNUTTER.... for the suggestions...

 

THANK YOU BUBBLYNUTTER.... for the suggestions...

You are more than welcome.

 

Something to watch out for......

In my planted tank, I am having an issue where the KH is dropping. When the carbonate hardness is under 4 degrees, the pH becomes unstable. As the KH out of my tap is now measuring 8-10 degrees (it was measuring 2 dKH a few weeks ago), I plan on doing PWC to keep the carbonate levels up so there is plenty for my plants that are consuming it.

If your tank becomes unstable, meaning the KH is below 4, your pH can suddenly drop and stress your fish. As your pH is already 6.0, you would not be able to identify this drop through testing.

I'd recommend purchasing a KH/GH test kit to monitor these levels.....and compare them to your water source levels. You may need to do more water changes or add a component that can raise the KH if necessary.

Good luck!

 

6 is not too low for guppies, just be sure to monitor your hardness and pH occasionally and keep up with your tank maintenance, as the lower your pH and hardness levels are, the closer your water is to being unstable on the low side. (yes driftwood and etc. lowers your pH)

I use liquid measuring tests for KH, this is the main thing to test for water hardness (buffering)

THnks

 

Something to watch out for......

In my planted tank, I am having an issue where the KH is dropping. When the carbonate hardness is under 4 degrees, the pH becomes unstable. As the KH out of my tap is now measuring 8-10 degrees (it was measuring 2 dKH a few weeks ago), I plan on doing PWC to keep the carbonate levels up so there is plenty for my plants that are consuming it.

If your tank becomes unstable, meaning the KH is below 4, your pH can suddenly drop and stress your fish. As your pH is already 6.0, you would not be able to identify this drop through testing.

I'd recommend purchasing a KH/GH test kit to monitor these levels.....and compare them to your water source levels. You may need to do more water changes or add a component that can raise the KH if necessary.

Good luck!

Well this is the thing... I have no clue what my KH is or water Hardness is... What would be the correct KH and GH for a planted tank on the more acidic side of water...?

OH and is Softness of water or hardness of water the KH or GH thing... well I think it is but need to make sure...

 

There really is no magic number other than you need at least 4KH to keep your pH stable.

Definitely pick up a KH/GH testing kit. API offers a combo kit to test both types of hardness that is fairly cheap and accurate.

 

There really is no magic number other than you need at least 4KH to keep your pH stable.

Definitely pick up a KH/GH testing kit. API offers a combo kit to test both types of hardness that is fairly cheap and accurate.

Alright thnks... BUt I'm confused with this KH/GH thing.... What on earth is GH then if KH is the water hardness ???

 

GH = General Hardenss. It measures the overall hardness of water

KH = Carbonate Hardness. It measures the amount of carbonate in the water

GH, KH and pH are a system that remains in balance. This is why products like pH Up/Down do not work as it only affects the pH levels. Adjust KH and pH will adjust as well, for example. There is a lot of information on this site and the net on this subject.

 

KH is the alkalinity buffer that stabilizes your pH level, it is as stated above a measurement of carbonates (usually calcium carbonate) present in water

GH is the meaurement of mineral levels (mainly calcium and magnesium) and is what most people know as "water hardness"

KH and GH are usually close to the same levels in stable water because they are both measured by dissolved calcium levels, different factors affect this however.

The important thing is stability, the lower your KH is (the buffer) the lower (and possibly less stable) your pH levels will be... the higher the KH is, the higher the pH levels will be (and much more stable at high KH)

 

Thank you both for your helps... IT really has helped a lot thnks...

So since my PH is 6.0 then that means that my KH and GH isn't very high... right ??? Low mineral content right ???

 

Potentially, but you need to test to know these levels before taking any action....or....you can end up with a huge mess.

 

Potentially, but you need to test to know these levels before taking any action....or....you can end up with a huge mess.

Yeah I kno... thnx...

 

Thank you both for your helps... IT really has helped a lot thnks...

So since my PH is 6.0 then that means that my KH and GH isn't very high... right ??? Low mineral content right ???

Yes this is most likely the case, you can get a kit to test the GH and KH for exact levels but adding crushed coral to raise the KH and pH is not going to do anything drastic to your water... it dissolves very slowly and that's why its considered one of the safe options for altering your KH and pH higher.

I would still get a test kit as it is very useful to know your levels for different conditions (ie you have multiple tank setups / your water source changes / etc.)

 

Yes this is most likely the case, you can get a kit to test the GH and KH for exact levels but adding crushed coral to raise the KH and pH is not going to do anything drastic to your water... it dissolves very slowly and that's why its considered one of the safe options for altering your KH and pH higher.

I would still get a test kit as it is very useful to know your levels for different conditions (ie you have multiple tank setups / your water source changes / etc.)

OK THANKS... THGH my tap water that I add to my water changes are at a PH of 8.0... (a light blue color) So by that my water after water changes are still at 6.0 that means that my Buffer or KH is high... Or is it not... ???

FYI: IM planning on getting the test kit of this saturday...

 

To determine true pH you need to add water to a bucket with an airstone. Test the water every 24 hours until the pH remains unchanged. That is your water's pH.

Mine comes out of the tap at 7.2 - 7.6, but my true pH is 6.6 - 6.8.

 

To determine true pH you need to add water to a bucket with an airstone. Test the water every 24 hours until the pH remains unchanged. That is your water's pH.

Mine comes out of the tap at 7.2 - 7.6, but my true pH is 6.6 - 6.8.

WEll I mean my tank has been established for four years.. my PH is 6.0 or very close to that and it will be like that forever unless I do something about it (which I probably wont)... I have had my PH tester ever since last year (my old PH tester ran out cuase of too much use) and every time I test my water either after water changes or before water changes it comes out very close to 6.0... it has this yellowish color to it... and my ph color code says that the yellow is at 6.0...

FYI: I keep it more acidic cuase of south african or western fishes like tetras... or like rasboras...

OH and I have a airstone or airwand in my aquarium...

 

OK THANKS... THGH my tap water that I add to my water changes are at a PH of 8.0... (a light blue color) So by that my water after water changes are still at 6.0 that means that my Buffer or KH is high... Or is it not... ???

FYI: IM planning on getting the test kit of this saturday...

A low pH means your KH (the buffer) is low... that's not bad unless your pH becomes unstable, which would mean your KH is too low to buffer your pH up and keep it stable.

Heres an example..

High KH.... very stable pH level around 8 or higher

Average KH.... stable pH level around 7

Low KH.... fairly stable pH level around 5 to 6

Extremely Low KH.... UNstable pH levels below 5

Note that the lower your KH becomes the less stable your pH becomes