GH help?? Maybe.

[Dandelion]

I wasn't sure where else to post this but here we are.This morning I was talking with my dad about GH levels and how we have very high levels of GH. I'm not sure if this is a concern or something I should be aware of, I've been planning for weeks now what I'm going to be putting in my tank. But I just realized we have very very high levels of GH, do high levels of GH effect fish or shrimp? The things I plan on having in my tank include Blue powder gourami, Cardinal tetras and Amano shrimp. If high levels of GH do effect these types of fish/shrimp what can I put instead of these fish/shrimp? GH= general hardness, and I have ordered the API GH/KH test kit but I'm not sure when it's going to arrive. But when my mom tested my pool using test strips it said 800+ ppm of GH. We've always had hard water, is it okay if I use this water for my tank or should I go for a different
option? Like distilled water which I add minerals back? Or some different solution! If there is a specific type of fish(s) or shrimp that like hard water? could someone let me know?(is there even types of fish or shrimp that like/live in really hard water?)

 

[Colin_T]

Don't get dwarf gouramis (Colisa lalius) or any of their colour forms (powder blue) because they can carry the Gourami Iridovirus and or Fish TB. Neither disease can be treated or cured and once they are in your tank, they are there until you scrap everything and disinfect everything.

There are plenty of other small species of gourami that do not carry these diseases and are a better choice.

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The fish you are interested in come from water with very few minerals in (low GH) and a pH below 7.0. They will not do well in hard water.

Are you using well water or mains water from a water company?

The GH doesn't change much throughout the year so most people just get their local pet shop to test it once or twice a year, rather than buying a test kit. You can buy a GH, KH test kit if you like, but it probably won't get used much.

The GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

Depending on what the GH of your water is, will determine what fish you should keep.

Angelfish, most tetras, barbs, Bettas, gouramis, rasbora, Corydoras and small species of suckermouth catfish all occur in soft water (GH below 150ppm) and a pH below 7.0.

Livebearers (guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies), rainbowfish and goldfish occur in medium hard water with a GH around 200-250ppm and a pH above 7.0.

If you have very hard water (GH above 300ppm) then look at African Rift Lake cichlids, or use distilled or reverse osmosis water to reduce the GH and keep fishes from softer water.

 

[Dandelion]

Thanks for telling me about this I've got alot of thinking to do and honestly I should have checked what my water was beforehand (PH,GH ect.) But atleast I haven't made any huge decisions. I think what I'll do is get my water tested and then come back onto the forum and ask what could live in these conditions. I will most likely have to make adjustments like how to soften my water so it isn't as hard as it is or have to change certain things being added. Regardless it's just a little extra work that I can do!

 

[Lynnzer]

I was at 460ish GH from my own tap supply. That sort of explained why I lost a good number of fish in my early learning period.
I now have 7 tanks, each of which is set up for fish with the same water parameter requirements. I get to the intended GH/HK and pH by using a mix of tapwater, bottled water and lately rainwater from a new 100ltr barrel I set up a few weeks ago. AND IT'S RAINING RIGHT NOW....Yippee
Since then my fish have started breeding, the plants are doing better and I feel better myslf knowing that I've done everything in my power to make the fish happier.
If you want to take a peek at a livestreaming tank of happy fish then look at my aquascaped tank that's in the Tank of the Month contest from my signature link