How to increase water hardness?

[EddyTing]

Hi, as above is my main question. There are few more hoping bros out there would advice me on.
1) KH and GH both i know is water hardness, but is there any difference for fish?
2) How to increase the water hardness and which to increase? KH or GH?
3)Will it affect my PH?

[nowhereman]

Hi, as above is my main question. There are few more hoping bros out there would advice me on.
1) KH and GH both i know is water hardness, but is there any difference for fish?
2) How to increase the water hardness and which to increase? KH or GH?
3)Will it affect my PH?

Carbonate Hardness (KH) => measuring the alkalinity of the water, which means a measurement of the waters buffering ability, or its ability to absorb and neutralise acid. The more alkalinity or the higher the Carbonate Hardness of the water the less likely you will incur pH swings in the water. In other words, to stabilise the pH of your water.

General Hardness (GH) => a measurement of Magnesium and Calcium ions in the water. In other words, how hard or soft the water is.

Per Hydrogen (pH) => a measure of the balance between the Hydrogen (H+) and Hydroxide (OH) ions in the water. Lw pH is acidic and high pH is alkaline or basic.


So all the 3 terms refers to different thing, but affects one another. So if want to increase KH, add baking soda (increase kH only) or coral chips (increase kH and gH) calcium carbonate.

[EddyTing]

Thanks a lot nowhereman (you're very humble to choose the nick as you sounded very knowledgeable). Everything is crystal clear now....but just one more question, the more coral chips i add in, the more hard and alkalinity the water is? I just need a slight increase for my shrimps as i believe it's too soft for them currently.

[nowhereman]

Thanks a lot nowhereman (you're very humble to choose the nick as you sounded very knowledgeable). Everything is crystal clear now....but just one more question, the more coral chips i add in, the more hard and alkalinity the water is? I just need a slight increase for my shrimps as i believe it's too soft for them currently.

I hope the alkanlinity you talking about is about KH, not pH.

Yes, adding coral chips will increase increase the kH and gH of your tank. But dun add to much, for me, I use only a handful each time to obtain the result i need.

Oh, for my nick, I really a nowhereman.... not getting anywhere in my life

[EddyTing]

Hi again, nowhereman. Ya, i do mean KH. But actually, I'd like to increase the GH only. As I've heard that it's good for CRS,am i right? But either way, I still do believe i have too soft water so dont mind increasing both KH and GH. Thanks for your advice...i'll do that for my next filter cleaning.

Everyone's somewhere,nowhereman. Maybe you have not realize it yet. For example, now you are teaching me stuffs and I'm learning from you.