Help with api gh & kh readings

[Pws1821]

Hi I'm trying to use the api kh & gh test kit but not sure what my results are they both changed to the colours they are supposed to be on the 3rd drop is that ok for a community tank thanks

[mommy1]

To convert 3 drops to ppm you multiply 3 x 17.9 which equal 53.7. That means you have very soft water.

http://www.cs.duke.edu/~narten/faq/chemistry.html

[Pws1821]

Thanks and is that ok as it is

[mommy1]

If you keep fish that like very soft water then it is fine. Just watch the pH of your tank to be sure it isn't fluctuating to much. If it does then you will need to do small water changes several times a week to maintain the KH and buffering abilities in your tank.

[Pws1821]

The fish I have are just neons mollies platies and others like that the ph is 7.2 and has been stable for ages but over the last week I've been losing 1 or 2 fish a day and can see anything wrong with them

[mommy1]

The neons will like the soft water but the mollies and platys prefer hard water. Start checking the pH in your tank in the morning and in the evening every day. Write down the results of the tests and keep doing it for a few days so we can see a pattern, if there is one.

[Pws1821]

Will do thanks :)

[mommy1]

You're very welcome. :ssmile:

[Anders247]

Yeah, platies and mollies won't last long in that soft of water, especially mollies.

[Rocksor]

Yeah, platies and mollies won't last long in that soft of water, especially mollies.

If the water is too soft, the fish who developed from areas that are high in TDS and hard water will lose the minerals in their bodies much faster than they can cope with. In this case, the mollies.

[Anders247]

Yes. All fish need some minerals in their water, even soft water fish. If you had RO water you'd need to add some minerals back to it.....
What's TDS? (Total dissolved solids?)

[Rocksor]

What's TDS? (Total dissolved solids?)

yes it is

[Pws1821]

Ok thanks so what's the best way to fix this problem as this is how my water comes out of the tap

[mommy1]

You should do frequent small water changes to keep pH stable and to replenish TDS.