does water hardness affect fish in any ways? GH/KH?

Good point,like PH,KH and GH are very importam too,you can find different levels of PH,GH,KH in
differents tap water supplies,

WHAT IS CARBONATE HARDNESS (KH)??
Carbonate hardness(also known os alkalinity) is the measure of carbonate and bicarbonate ion concentrations dissolved
in water.These minerals are present in municipal,well,and botter spring water.The level of carbonate hardness in tap water
and bottled water depends on the source of the water and the treatment processes it has undergone.Carbonate hardness
helps stabilize ph in the aquarium.An aquarium with a low KH level(50 ppm or less)will tend to be acidic.Aquarium with very
low KH are subject to rapid PH shifts,if not monitored carefully.Water with a high KH level (200 ppm >) usally has a high PH.

0 to 80 ppm = low KH
120 ppm to 180 ppm = Ideal range KH
240 ppm to 200 ppm = high KH

WHAT IS GENERAL HARDNESS (GH)
General hardness is the measure of calcium and magnesium ion concentrations dissolved in water.The level of GH in tap
water depends on the source of the water and treatment processes it has undergone.

0 to 25 ppm = very soft GH
50ppm to 120ppm = moderate GH
250 ppm to 425 ppm = very hard GH

KH AND GH IN THE AQUARIUM
Aquarists seek to provide a healthy aquarium environment by duplicating the water conditions of the natural habitats of their
fish.Tap water rarely provides the water conditions necessary to maintain an optimal aquarium.Some tap water supplies have
a very low KH levels (below 50 ppm)this type of water has very little PH buffering capacity and can contribute to wide PH swings
in the aquarium.
When water evaporates from the aquarium ,it leaves behind hardness ions.Topping off with tap water simply add more minerals
to the aquarium,resulting in a steady increase in GH.
It is therefore necessary to test the GH and KH frequently to monitor
water quality to create the ideal water hardness levels for your aquarium.

thanks for the information bro!. now my tap water measure very high in GH/KH, 180ppm for GH, and
240ppm for KH. also PH read is 7.8 to 8.2. ok now i want to lower GH/KH a little bit how do i lower it?.
if i lower PH, will that also lower GH/KH? any thought/advice? thanks

oh and does GH/KH affect fish, like color, growth, etc?

This post has been edited by mrcrane: Apr 9 2008, 01:27 PM

i see this topic being pinned..great info

I agree

thanks for sharing the info Luis!

Luis i wouldnt have said it better and i agree and u can loewer the GH by peet or a peice of drift wood !

WOW,tap water 7.8 to 8.2,with PH like that you need to keep Ammonia 0,Nitrite 0,and Nritrate no more tham 40 ppm,
because with a little high Nitratre your fish get strees very easy and affect,color,KOk,etc.Also high PH is very toxic if you
don't keep good conditions of the water.
About if PH,GH,and KH affect you fish of course,for me,the PH has to make your fish happy.Observation is the key.I saw
FH (MP or not MP) very happy in high PH and flowerhorn very dizzy too,I saw flowerhorn in low PH like 6.5 to 6.8 very happy and flowerhorn very
dizzy,so all depends wich PH your flowerhorn like it.I don't know how your fish respond in high PH?? some flowerhorn have the ability to
adapt to the water.
I wonder,if members from Thailand,Malaysia,Indonesia,Taiwan,Vietnam,etc can share with us his water parameters in order
to know in wich water conditions your fish born and check why the fish is happy over there and not happy over here.
for example:
Artum06,Corona,Queens,NY,USA=PH 6.6,GH 120ppm,KH 40 ppm.