Query on general hardness (GH)

**nkthen** · 31st Jul 2006, 15:08

Need some clarifications on gH.

I am testing my gH level and from my testing kit, when I put one drop into the water (that is in the test tube), it should be yellow. Every drop I give to the water, it suppose to turn to orange until it turns green. When it turns green, I'm supposed to check how many drops I put till it turns green as each drop represents 1gh.

Well, I've put 30 drops, and it is still yellow.

I asked LFS and they said that Singapore water has no gH and so I should put in gH+ powder. I've added 4 tealspoons already and it should give me 2gH.

I test again and it's still the same. Up to 30 drops, still yellow.

Also, my pH has been increasing by itself and I thought it could be the lack of gH to stablise it. My kH is at 4 so it seems fine to me.

Only gH seems to stump me.

Any help? Is it true that Singapore water has no gH?

**PeterGwee** · 31st Jul 2006, 17:21

No, most GH test kits turn bad pretty quickly. If you use ADA aquasoil or peat laden substrates, you basically lower both the KH and GH.

Regards
Peter Gwee

**shihyong** · 31st Jul 2006, 21:11

Originally Posted by PeterGwee

No, most GH test kits turn bad pretty quickly. If you use ADA aquasoil or peat laden substrates, you basically lower both the KH and GH.

Regards
Peter Gwee

Hi Peter, thanks for your advice.

No wonder no matter how I tried my gH Test kit, it always show red.
Normally PUB water gH is how many degree?
Thanks.

**GaspingGurami** · 1st Aug 2006, 08:46

straight off my tap at Hougang, I get 4dGH, 0-1dKH

**dc88** · 1st Aug 2006, 21:46

Here near Bishan tap water GH is about 3 dH and KH 0 - 1 dH, but seriously don't bother about accurate GH measurement as most test kit in LFS are way expired. If you really want to buy GH test kit, go look for LFS that has aircon running and carry fresh stock.
If your PH increase by itself one very likely cause is inadequate CO2, as plants will use up CO2 and start extract carbon from bicarbonate in the water, which will drive up PH.

**nkthen** · 3rd Aug 2006, 10:06

Originally Posted by dc88

Here near Bishan tap water GH is about 3 dH and KH 0 - 1 dH, but seriously don't bother about accurate GH measurement as most test kit in LFS are way expired. If you really want to buy GH test kit, go look for LFS that has aircon running and carry fresh stock.
If your PH increase by itself one very likely cause is inadequate CO2, as plants will use up CO2 and start extract carbon from bicarbonate in the water, which will drive up PH.

Oh... That's something that I don't know... Plants will actually take bicarbonate from water??? Wah... Chim chemistry(or Ecology?

)...

Just checked and realised that my CO2 is not working, maybe that's the reason?

Let me rectify that.

**blim** · 17th Aug 2006, 11:43

My newly bought GH&KH Test Kit is supposed to turn the test water from clear to Yellow for KH measurement and yellow to green for GH measurement. Well, one drop from the KH bottle turned test water to yelow. So my KH is one degree? But more than 20 drops from the GH bottle still couldnt turn the water to green, it became more yellowish instead. My water GH is sky high or I spent $9 for an expired test kit?

I have pebbles in my tank and china made ceramic rings in my sump filter. Will they increase GH of the water?

**dc88** · 17th Aug 2006, 19:14

Try test on tap water. If you put in more than 5 drops and still no color change than you got a bad test kit. Our local tap water is quite consistent.

**blim** · 18th Aug 2006, 15:56

Ya. Added 30 drops to tap water and it is still yellow. My GH Test Solution certainly is bad.

I wrote to AMI and provided them with the lot no. of my GH and KH kit and received the following the reply, hope this helps friends when they are buying AMI products:

In response to your question, each reagent bottle has a Lot # printed on
the bottle. The last four digits are the month and year of manufacture.
Example: Lot # 28A0102. This is a pH reagent manufactured in January of
2002. If kept at room temperature, Pond Care Wide Range pH, Ammonia,
High Range pH, Nitrate, Phosphate, Copper, Calcium and GH all last for
about three years. Nitrite and KH will last for about four years.
Freshwater pH(low range) and Pond Care Salt Level will last for about
five years. I would not trust these kits after they have expired.

Your GH Kit would only have 6 weeks maximum before it is definitely
expired. However, the problems you are having are consistent with a kit
that is already expired and no good. Your KH Kit should still be good
until next May or June. If you had just purchased these kits, I would
exchange them for another.

**nkthen** · 18th Aug 2006, 16:07

I have this problem last time. I put over 30 drops and nothing changes.

So I went to buy another gH test kit and the color changes in just 3 drops (that's 3gH)

I think you should get it from an air-conditioned place. I got mine from Tampines Mall Basement 1 aquarium.

Azoo gH test kit. Works well for me.

**blim** · 18th Aug 2006, 16:14

ya. No more no aircon shop for my GH kit.

**GaspingGurami** · 18th Aug 2006, 16:43

GH kits go bad after opening too. So if yours are starting to read strange, test it against a known stock solution. It took me some time to figure my testkit expired, and in the mean time, I was heaping spoonsful of Equilibrium and wondering why my plants were so calcium hungry.

**dc88** · 18th Aug 2006, 21:38

When buying test kit, go for LFS that is aircon 24x7. And look for fresh stock. One such LFS is inside Thomson Plaza benefit from the aircon of the shoping mall.

**blim** · 19th Aug 2006, 12:56

I have seen a petshop on the ground floor at Thomson Plaza, I thought they are dealing mainly with dog and cat food. Is this the LFS you are referring to?

**|squee|** · 19th Aug 2006, 13:30

It's the one on the second floor, opposite and above the Bata shoe shop. It has a big display tank in front, you can't miss it. It's closed on Mondays if I'm not wrong.

**paperman** · 19th Aug 2006, 13:47

Originally Posted by blim

I have seen a petshop on the ground floor at Thomson Plaza, I thought they are dealing mainly with dog and cat food. Is this the LFS you are referring to?

Thomson Plaza, Second Floor, beside a cafe. Confirm close on Monday. Daily close at around 8.00pm.

**blim** · 19th Aug 2006, 14:05

Thanks. This must be a new shop, I have been to Thomson Plaza recently and didnt notice there is an aquarium on the 2nd floor.

**dc88** · 19th Aug 2006, 17:23

They carry Sera and Dennerel brands. The Sera test kits I bought there are of good quality (PH, KH, GH, NO3, PO4) although price might be slightly more than HDB area.