water hardness test strips
i have a 6.2 pH in my 55 gal .fresh water fish tank. help me?

how can i raise the pH. my tester also says i have very hard water. what does this mean, and how can i fix it.
i have had a really good set up, until the ike hurricane, gave us no power for 5 days. now i cant get it right.

i have several large gold fish and bala fish, along with a large cat fish algae eater and peacock eel

my levels are…..
NO3–250
NO2–1
HARDNESS(GH)–280 very hard
KH–180
pH–6.2
i own a TETRA test easy strips–5-1 test.
what is of normal and how can i fix it. and keep it good.

whats weird is my water has a pH of
7.6, and i change 5 gals and it will change my pH, but the next to days, its low again.

I suggest you do seveal partial water changes in a short period. (Every day) Your NO3 reading is very high, and could be causing the pH problem. NO2 should be zero, but thats probably due to the filters being affected by the power outage.

With the power off for that time your filters (and tanks) cycle will have been damaged.

Dont do a sudden huge water change, as a big change in pH can stress the fish more than they already are. But 25% per day will do no harm, and will not affect the recovery of your filters cycle.

That will lower your nitrate level and gradually bring your tank water closer to your tap water measurements.

Never be afraid to change water, it seldom makes things worse for a tank.

Ian

water hardness test stripswater hardness test strips
water hardness test strips

Water Test Kits For Aquariums

Water testing is an integral part of owning a saltwater aquarium, so it pays to know how to do it properly. Water test kits for aquariums allow the aquarist to run chemical tests on the water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, salinity, pH, carbonate water hardness, alkalinity, chlorine, chloramine, copper, phosphate, oxygen, iron, carbon dioxide, and more.

Each test kit is rather expensive, although it’s possible to save some money if you purchase a master test kit.

How do aquarium test kits work? The process is very easy – all you have to do is dip the strips in a test tube containing your aquarium water, and compare the color on the strip to the information cards that come with the package.

Another type of test kit comes with liquid droppers containing a solution you drip into a test tube of sample water. Then you just shake and wait a few minutes for the results. Again, match the color in the test tube to the color on the card to find out what the results mean.

Saltwater master test kits look for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and even alkalinity.

Ammonia builds up in a saltwater aquarium from fish waste and leftover food that has begun to rot. It’s extremely important to keep your tank free of ammonia, as it’s the main reason why fish die. Readings should always be 0.

Nitrite develops when bacteria present in the tank feed off ammonia. In new tanks that have not been cycled, nitrite levels are very high. Nitrite is toxic to fish just like ammonia. To remove nitrites from the water you have to conduct a water change. Bacteria in the water and filters eventually transform nitrites into nitrate. A nitrite reading must be 0.

Nitrates are produced, as mentioned above, during the natural cycling process. While not as toxic as nitrites and ammonia, nitrates can cause your fish stress in high amounts. A partial water change will get rid of nitrates, which should be less than 20 ppm. Reef tanks should have a reading closer to 0.

pH refers to a water’s acidity or alkalinity. The pH scale is between 0 and 14. Zero is the most acidic, seven is neutral, and fourteen is alkaline. Water changes can raise or lower the pH level, as does the addition of specific chemicals to the water. The right pH level depends on the type of fish you have in your tank.

An alkalinity kit tests the stability of your water in regards to a changing pH level. Essentially, this type of test specifically looks for your aquarium’s capabilities for stabilizing the pH in the water. The reading in saltwater tanks should be between 7 and 12 dkH.

Testing the water in your aquarium is an important part of maintaining the tank and keeping your fish safe and healthy. Regular maintenance will ensure your aquarium continues to run smoothly, but you always have to double check by carrying out the required tests.

We recommend the easiest to use Salifert or Seachem test kits.

About the Author

Salifert Test Kits
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Aquarium Test Kits

What is the right kind of water for a goldfish?

I need to know what the correct GH (general hardness), KH (Carbonate hardness), pH (for fresh water), NO2 (Nitrite), and NO3 (Nitrate) are for a goldfish tank… i have the 5 in 1 aquarium test strips from API aquarium pharmaceuticals.
help pleaseeeeee!

thanks (:

Firstly, I suggest investing in the liquid test kits, mainly because the strips can sometimes be inaccurate and can end up costing just as much if not more than the liquid ones over time. But that’s merely a suggestion.

You should get some test strips for the ammonia. That’s one of the main ones you want to look for. Ammonia should b 0, Nitrites should be 0, Nitrates should be no higher than 20ppm.

Anyway, here’s a webpage with the rest of the parameters for you.

http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Goldfish

Testing Your Pond Water



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