Water Hardness
After reading all the posts for hardness and alkalinity, I tried to go back through the aquarium literature that I have, and make some sense of all the different definitions, ...
Water Hardness
Isn't Hardness the same thing as pH? No. While pH is a measure of acidity, hardness is a measure of how much calcium (and to a much lesser extent, magnesium) is in the water.
Water Hardness and pH:
Hardness: The hardness of the water depends on the amounts of dissolved minerals and salts, mainly magnesium and calcium.
Water Hardness Explained
By Caz van Slyck
Water hardness is the amount of dissolved minerals found in water. A large amount of dissolved minerals means the water is hard, a small amount means the water is soft.
Lowering the Water Hardness and pH of Pond Water
:
How to Use Peat Moss to Lower Water Hardness and pH Levels in Ponds ...
Water Hardness:
10.0 to 15.0 dH
Melanochromis auratus are a fantastic aquarium species. When young, males and females are both a bright golden yellow with two brown to black horizontal bands along the top half of their bodies.
Water Hardness
The degree of water hardness relates to the amount of dissolved minerals, especially calcium and magnesium, in the water. Water hardness is generally expressed in the amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
Water Hardness
Most snails do best in harder/alkaline water. If the hardness/ph drops below a certain point, their shells will start to dissolve and/or grow improperly (the behavior seems to be based on species).
Water Hardness 1 German degree (dKH or dGH) = 17.9 ppm degrees "General Hardness" (GH) = 0.056 ppm CaCO3 degrees "Carbonate Hardness/Alkalinity" (KH) = 0.056 ppm CaCO3 US/Metric Conversions 1 ppm = 1mg/L 1 ounce (oz) = 28.
Water Hardness: Varies by species. Generally soft (2-8 dH), some fairly hard (12-20 dH)
Temperature: Varies by species. Generally 72-80°F (22-27°C)
Origin: South America, Africa ...
Water Hardness
General Hardness (GH)
GH primarily measures calcium and magnesium ions. It is important for breeders (some species require very soft water, which is hard to maintain, requiring constant monitoring for maximum success).
Water Hardness: Very Hard
Profiles Tanganyika Shell Dwellers 'Lamprologus' sp. "Shell Zambia"
Key To Species Profile Terms ...
Water Hardness
The hardness level of water has to do with the amount of minerals that are dissolved in the water. Calcium and magnesium are the primary minerals that are dissolved in tap water.
Water hardness and pH are two basic parameters that are easily measured with test kits and are important in providing an optimal aquarium environment.
Water hardness follows the following guidelines. The unit dH means ``degree hardness'', while ppm means ``parts per million'', which is roughly equivalent to mg/L in water. 1 unit dH equals 17.8 ppm CaCO3.
"Water hardness also may affect antibiotic absorption." "For example, calcium ions in hard water bind to tetracyclines, resulting in failure or the antibiotic to be absorbed.
dGH: Water hardness is expressed in degrees of hardness. 0 - 30 is normally used, 0-4 being very soft, 5-8 soft, and so forth until 30 which is extremely hard water. Look at "Water hardness".
You'll need a water hardness (GH) of greater than 7d. To raise GH you can add coral gravel or clean sea shells and let them slowly dissolve.
Keep in mind, processed water is used to dilute your tap water hardness. Zero hardness is the opposite extreme plants don't like.
5 is desired with water hardness levels between 2 and 3. Numerous hiding places should be provided, particularly thick, sturdy plants that grow from the bottom of the enclosure to the surface of the water.
WATER :Most species prefer a pH from 7-8, a water hardness from 8-18 dH, and a temperature from 70-77°F (21-25°C). Many species prefer the addition of a small amount of salt.
Moderate water hardness seems to work the best for robust breeding and coloration.
4. I highly recommend the addition of live plants to maintain good water quality.
5. Sponge filters are the best since they do not pose a danger to baby shrimp.
6.
Water hardness should not be allowed to exceed 30 dGH. As far as feeding, White Skirt Tetras are omnivorous and do well on a varied diet that includes flake and freeze dried foods. They also seem to do well on frozen foods too.
The actual triggers are the decrease in temperature, decrease in water hardness, and cleaner water. Others like goldfish are triggered mostly by light changes (usually coupled with temperature changes as well).
There are test kits and additives to adjust the pH and water hardness. Seachem Prime is a very popular additive for de-chlorinating and it controls ammonia levels too.
The chemicals in your freshwater aquarium need to be kept in balance, so zeolites are used to remove ammonia, and water hardness is reduced by ion exchange resins.
This hardy fish prefers neutral PH, with soft to medium water hardness of about 5-12 dGH. They are open breeders and need well oxygenated water, in order to spawn. They will spawn on cleaned rocks, dropping around 500 eggs.
Some, like calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate, will make your water hardness go through the roof as the elements dissolve into the water. Marble, limestone, coral, dolomite, or anything similar will do just that.
This fish prefers to be kept at water temperatures of between 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with a water hardness of between 8-12 dGH (medium hard water).
This plant does well in all water hardness conditions and most lighting situations. Optimum growth temperature is 68 to 82.4 degrees, although it can grow in temps from 41 to 86 degrees. Hydrocotyle leucocephala requires low to high lighting (1.
A water hardness below 12, it's best to have filtration over peat. Adding floating plants to provide shaded areas is necessary, as well as a large tank with many hideouts.
When it rains, streams flood, the water hardness drops, and there is thunder and lightning.
As most keepers of Rift Lake cichlids are aware, this Texas limestone serves as a buffer to help maintain water hardness and alkalinity.
You can use peat moss to lower water hardness (ie soften water). Put the peat into a filter bag so it doesn't dirty the water. The bag can be put in your tank or in your filtration system.
Breeding Information: Lowering pH and water hardness a bit may induce breeding. Be sure to provide broad leaf plants for them to lay the eggs under.
Sexing Information: Females tend to be plumper than males.
Water hardness should be less than 4 degrees and live food such as mosquito larvae are great inducers. Be sure to remove the adults after the eggs have been laid, as they will eat them. The eggs should hatch within 30 hours.
Do make sure you have adequate water hardness for your daphnia, otherwise they will not reproduce at a high rate, and will probably just produce ephippia.
Do try to maintain a constant temperature (about 20oC is ideal for most species).
To encourage breeding, water hardness should be less than 4 KH. Live foods such as mosquito larvae are another great inducer. Be sure to remove the adult Black Neon Tetras after the eggs have been laid, as they will eat the eggs.
In order to breed with this beautiful species your pH must be at least 5 or lower and the water hardness must soft.
During the Nitrogen Cycle and regularly thereafter, it is essential to constantly test your water for pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, general hardness and carbonate water hardness (alkalinity).
These fish can only be described as fairly undemanding with regards to care. So long as extremes of temperature and water hardness are avoided and oxygen levels are kept up a bit, the fish adapts well to life in the aquarium.
Scientific Name: Julidochromis ornatus
Maximum Size: 3″ inches
Temperature Range: 77 - 79 °F
pH: 8.6
Water Hardness: Very Hard
Temperament: Aggressive and territorial
Origin: Lake Tanganyika ...
Water hardness tolerance: 14 - 20 °dKH
Tank type: freshwater tank
Floor water column: entire water column
Behavior: aggressive toward their own kind
Care level: moderately difficult
Feeding: omnivore - ...
pH: 5.0 to 7.5
Origin: Australia
Water Hardness: Soft to Slightly Hard
Nutrients: Ample Nutrients
Relative Growth Speed: Slow; Moderate under strong light and high nutrient levels.
All quinolones are also inhibited by high water hardness. Softer water (as compared to full strength saltwater) may help certain antibiotics to be more effective or allow them to be used in smaller doses.
Herbert Axelrod described their native water quality as "slightly impure distilled water." Captive bred discus are tolerant of a wide range of pH and water hardness levels (from pH 6.0 to 7.5, TDS 30-180 ppm) if they're acclimated gradually to it, ...
General Hardness, or gH as it is also known, is primarily the measure of calcium (Ca++) and magnesium (Mg++) ions in the water. GH is commonly expressed in parts per million (ppm) of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or degrees hardness (dH). Water hardness ...
Nitrate and phosphate build up over time, the water hardness is ever increasing because of evaporation, and if there's allot of fish waste the ph is decreasing. The end result will always be unfavorable water conditions for the fish.
Insufficient cover or hiding places present.
Wrong water hardness for the species (Discus vs. African cichlids).
Insufficient oxygen in the water.
Improper fish nutrition (wrong food, foods not varied).
objects, dead fish, etc.), plastic buckets (for water changes), glass jars (for equilibrating temperatures prior to introduction), spare diaphragms (for aerators), etc. will all make life easier.
A selection of test kits, to include Water Hardness, ...
 See also: Water, Fish, Aquarium, Species, Temperature
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