Tank Chemistry

[RTR]

There has been too much poor to absolutely horrible advice given by a member and then supported by endless trivial argument. It is not a rare situation. Some folks learn a little and believe that they know it all, so they can tell folks with zero ammonia, 2ppm nitrite, and high nitrate that their tank is doing fine and they need to do nothing to it.

"A little learning is a dangerous thing.
Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring.
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again."
- Alexander Pope

[Pufferpunk]

IDK where the 2ppm nitrite came from but nitrate of 20, calls for a WC.

Sara, Sorry this thread got so off track.

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

nitrate- 20ppm
nitrite- 0

Just wanted to make that clear if it was overlooked. I know that I can do that at times. No arguement here because most of the post was removed or edited.

[Sara0229]

Soooo, anyway back to my question. My test kit is for salt/fresh water. I'm kind of confused about the readings because it (API kit) on the directions lists both GH and KH but the bottle says KH only? The directions give for both GH and KH with the number of drops equaling the same range for both. I thought these were different measurments? Confused My substrate is sand, chrushed coral, and a bit of gravel. My well water is really soft though. Maybe there is some way to harden the well water before adding it to the tank? Thanks for any suggestions.

[Pufferpunk]

Well water is about as hard as it gets. What brand test kit?

[Sara0229]

Yeah all our other wells have tested real hard but this one tests soft. I'm guessing it is because it is kind of in the woods.

The test kit is API.

[J-P]

Soooo, anyway back to my question. My test kit is for salt/fresh water. I'm kind of confused about the readings because it (API kit) on the directions lists both GH and KH but the bottle says KH only? The directions give for both GH and KH with the number of drops equaling the same range for both. I thought these were different measurments? Confused My substrate is sand, chrushed coral, and a bit of gravel. My well water is really soft though. Maybe there is some way to harden the well water before adding it to the tank? Thanks for any suggestions.

You should have 2 bottles. One for KH and one for GH.

http://www.bigalsonline.ca/Fish_Water-T ... ml?tc=fish

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com ... ctions.pdf