Need help reading KH and GH test.

Subject: Need help reading KH and GH test. Wed May 13, 2009 10:58 am

Ok I have never used a KH or a GH test kit before and I need help. I'm using API's KH & GH test kit and the instructions say to count how many drops I put into the test tube, cap and invert several times. The test is compleat when the water turns blue to yellow (for KH) or from orange to green (for GH). So I added 3 drops of test liquid to the test tubes and inverted it 3-4 times to mix the liquid. Each test tube turned the color it was suppose to (yellow for KH and Green for GH) I look at the chart and I cant figure it out. it has numbers with degree marks and under it it has PPM in (). So how do I read it? I'm so lost (and late for work)!

Subject: Re: Need help reading KH and GH test. Wed May 13, 2009 12:15 pm

Well first off you have to put one drop in at a time and invert, if don't change color add another drop and invert. Do this till it changes color if it is two drops or 10 drops but do them one at a time. The dh can be converted to PPM.

So to break it down the number of drops=the degrees hardness (dH), so if you have 3 dH or three drops in the tube, tat means you have relatively soft water. To compare to get desires hardness for an African Mbuna tank you want 10-12 dH.

here is a scale I found may look something like the one on the instructions.
0°-3° (0-50 ppm) discus, arowanas, elephantnose, neons, cardinals, live plants

3°-6° (50-100 ppm) Most tropical fish including angelfish, cichlids, tetras, botia, live plants

6°-11° (100-200 ppm) Most tropical fish including swordtails, guppies, mollies, goldfish

11°-22° (200-400 ppm) Rift lake cichlids, goldfish, brackish water fish

Hope this clears things up for you a bit.

Subject: Re: Need help reading KH and GH test. Wed May 13, 2009 2:59 pm

Very nice explanation.

Subject: Re: Need help reading KH and GH test. Wed May 13, 2009 8:38 pm

yeah that is an in-depth explanation

Subject: Re: Need help reading KH and GH test. Wed May 13, 2009 9:45 pm

Thanks MC I get it now! If I want to raise or lower these numbers how would I do that?

Subject: Re: Need help reading KH and GH test. Thu May 14, 2009 12:15 am

You can higher them by using baking soda or crushed coral. You dont really want to lower the value if you are only at three. I use baking soda to raise the hardness in my tanks but you have to be very very careful and particular to w/c and exact measurements if you go that route.

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Need help reading KH and GH test.

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