Why Is Water Hardness So Important For Healthy Fish

In this video, i talk about water hardness and why it's so important for your fish. There are several types of "hardness" but this video will focus on general Hardness, usually represented as dGH.
(there is also carbonate hardness kH, temporary hardness, permanent hardness, and General Hardness)

[@48tomw]

I could probably sell my water for a premium price in some parts of the country because my tap water is liquid rock,GH is 150+,KH is 180+ and the Ph is 8.4 according to Tetra test strips! I use a rodi unit out of necessity because I don't yet have AC's. Great video Dan as always! You would make a great science teacher if the edubabble that passes off as education wasn't in existence!Lol

[@aquablaster86]

Great vid! I have watched so many trying to understand this topic, only to still be slightly confused. Your 15 minute video helped me more then the rest put together. Thanks!

[@AFTeRSHOCKxvx]

Dude thank you! I've been trying to learn about water hardness lately and I haven't been able to find anything nearly as in depth. It makes so much more sense now! Awesome vid as always.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Thanks. I'm glad it helped.

[@neurotik7172]

Your videos are incredibly informative. As a brand new aquarist with a 65 gallon still undergoing cycling, your videos are a godsend! Also love the look of your aquariums: such thought was placed into them, and it shows!

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Thanks.

[@parameciumcaudatum1662]

Yes ;) you found the holy gral here! Was at the same point one year ago when I came across Dan`s channel. Thx 1000times to Dan again!

[@jonnelson270]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Excellent explanation of the basic biochemical mechanisms behind aquarium water maintenance and what happens when those parameters are neglected!

[@seandroid23]

Great video Dan, I never really considered hardness and never tested for it either. You explain things in a really easy way for the average person to understand. Gonna do a bit more research myself but you've given me a good baseline so I might understand what I'm even reading now. Thanks man! 👍

[@urbansk8r231]

Hi, Thanks for addressing this very important topic. I already new that from my research, so I can do the right thing by my pet. But other people really needed to know thisl.. especially people who buy fish on a whim who are new. Appreciate it. 👍

[@dimitris.4484]

I was searching alot about water hardness, ph etc because I have a betta for three week in tap water but it has ph 8-8,3 and gh14. Now you made it clear I need to soften the water with the available options. This fish needs 6-7.5ph and 4-12 gh. Nice material !!!

[@parameciumcaudatum1662]

This vid is a must watch for every new fish keeper!

[@DJ_LittlePea]

This was a really good video dan I always learn so much from your content .... gonna add this to my favourites playlist so others can benefit from it 🤗

[@williamtenoever1196]

Just blew my mind! Great info, thanks much

[@lindaford8513]

Dan, thanks for the hardness issue with Grammies. I lost 2 and they were BEAUTIFUL. I had a test kit but not hardness. I ordered stripes for hardness and my tap water is off the chain. Love your videos

[@katebattista7400]

Gouramis

[@jessicacammarata841]

I always learn so much from you!

[@Aladinscave]

Best video!!! Thank you so much 👍🏆

[@julierawlins5984]

Excellent! Thank you

[@klaytonlacey2027]

Thank you this helped me a lot!

[@deannesherriff3247]

Excellent explanation.

[@sariihover4798]

Well thank you

[@jyb90220]

Hi there is that a narrow Leaf Temple plant in the center of your tank

[@jdh516]

I finally, kind of, get it.

[@bugsmomwithjktaylor]

Oh. My. God. I finally get it.

[@bexiboo1981]

Nice tank!

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Thanks!

[@RichGuano]

Thanks for a very informative video. I am wondering if the melting experienced with newly added plants shares the same explanation.

[@RichGuano]

Plant cells are surrounded by rigid cellulose walls, (unlike animal cells), but plant cells still take in water by osmosis when placed in pure water. However, plant cells do not burst because their cellulose cell walls limit how much water can move in. The cell walls exert pressure, called turgor pressure, as the cells take up water. Read more: Osmosis (Cellular) - Osmosis In Plant Cells - Water, Pressure, Guard, and Osmotic - JRank Articles science.jrank.org/pages/4931/Osmosis-Cellular-Osmosis-in-plant-cells.html#ixzz5JFhZ6m6K

[@matthewodea3295]

sorry I know this is a hard question to ask you as iv still not when n bought a gh n kh test kit yet but if ur guessing what does my water conditions tell you about what you thinks going on with my gh all I can tell you is this. my tap waters ph 7.2-3 if I boil it it rises now I read boiling water rducts temp gh I tested ph as soon as it cooled as my ph came up by 0.2 ph this makes no sence to me at all a rise in ph and a drop in gh what do you thinks going on there its comfussng the heck outta me, I'm not going to mix boiledwater with my water to add to my tank until I nderstand things better I'm buyng a gh n kh test kit asap my over allgoal is to keep my tank at a ph of 6.5-7 and the gh n kh to where my fish prefer n that I can keep it at without swings my ph used to be 7 all the time from my tap and I use to stick a plant fully under the gravel which broughtit down to ph 6.5-6.7 but I ended up taking it out am awat to do same again and ad more mopani wood and start testing the ph every day for a week see if it keeps going down or stays about 6.7 ect

[@TheSwanbackjacks]

Question: I have accidently doubled my Seachem Equalibrium and noticed it literally melted two of my male Betta fins. Once I tested the water (thankfully I test twice per week) and noticed the GH was doubled what it should be, I did the water change to correct it. The fins repaired immediately. No further issues. Any idea why would fins be immediately effected?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

No, not really. The water being hard should cause that effect on the fish. I'm not sure what else is in the Equilibrium though.

[@richardandrews4076]

Great videos!! Love your Tiger Barb tank and wanted to keep some in my 50 gallon tank but was worried my water is too hard it’s PH is 7.43 and GH of 11dGH and KH is 7.5°d would you consider this too hard ?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Not for barbs. They're pretty hardy and 11 dGH isn't that hard.

[@richardandrews4076]

Dan Hiteshew thank you for the reply

[@parameciumcaudatum1662]

Hi, any chane you know a test to use for kH and gH you could use with brakish water? For now the only thing I know is titration of all the Ion types single and then make calculations. But that would use lab equipment and a lot of time.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Just use the API freshwater test hits. You'll get a good reading at low end brackish. I'm not sure where you need to switch to a saltwater test kit, but it's not until very high end brackish.

[@parameciumcaudatum1662]

THX alot will order that one imediately

[@kathleendixon5013]

I used the API test kit to measure Kh and Gh. My Kh is low at 2 degrees, but my Gh is off the chart! Literally, I gave up after EIGHTY drops!!! I consistently have a white film on the walls of my tank. Is it probably the minerals from the water? Besides using 20 gallons of RO water a week (I have a 29 gallon), is there anything I can do??

[@kathleendixon5013]

This is after a 40% water change.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Not really. Not that I can think of. Sorry.

[@matthewodea3295]

I live in the uk up in Scotland and I keep a lot of different types of fish in my main tank iv got a ram 5 rummy nosed tetras 8 corys a hoplos cat a bulldog pleco clown loachs a gourami n 2 bala sharks my tap water comes out at 7.3ph which is not what I want I want it around 6.5-7 tops I don't know what my gh is yet as iv still to get a test kit I read in my fish book that you can get rid of temp hardness by boiling water and I thought if I boil the water and the gh drops id also have a drop in ph I read ur best to use half boiling water to half tap water in tanks to balace the gh abit ,mind u I know its not just that simple n every tanks different,but I boiled water n tested it and the ph was 7.4 and the normal ap waters oney 7.2ph that's not what I'm after with the ph side of it but can you tell me why this is I'm guess but tell me if I'm right here. can boiling water reduct gh and rise ph I was sure dropping gh wouid also drop ph

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Temporary hardness is called that because it it dissolved solids that can be removed by boiling (such as carbonates). Permanent hardness is stuff that can't be boiled out, but isn't necessarliy true "hardness". (for example, Nitrates account for "permanent hardness, but don't contribute to true water hardness) General hardness (GH) is the measurement of calcium and magnesium in your water. These are both strong buffers, so the harder your water, the higher the pH, generally speaking. Dissloved CO2 lowers your pH, so when you boiled it, you removed all the dissloved gasses and that's probably what raised your pH slightly.

[@matthewodea3295]

thanks tht makes sence it kh iv reducted by boilig not gh stilllearning this water stuff

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Me too. Lol It's complicated stuff.

[@matthewodea3295]

yeh ur right there its acrazy big ;long never ending learning curve

[@teddylott]

i have 8 ph which is considered hard water but a gh of 3-5 sosoft water, this i dont understand

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

It get's tricky with pH. I'm not sure why the pH is what is in some of my tank either. Hardness is the measure of Ca, Mg, and iron in the water, so whatever the pH, if you don't have a lot of these minerals, then your water isn't going to be hard.

[@teddylott]

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly yes makes sense in some cases. I'm soon to be setting up a south America black water aquarium and getting confused about what are the recommended water parameters. From the tap I have a ph of 8 a gh of 3-5 and a kh of 3 -5. Think these are good for a soft water environment but so many people have conflicting ideas about it. People keep mentioning the ph crash for water under 3 or so gh. But then again if I was to keep wild discus in these conditions some sources would say that's great water parameters. Is there a golden rule source fishkeeprs refer to regarding water?? After a few weeks have research j don't feel that much closer to understanding what is good or bad. As I said so many conflicting opinions on this subject.

[@miguelmagallon7863]

Boss man shrimp water how do i lower the gh

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

You can mix it with RO water.

[@necroeasy593]

Thatd scary to not know but the water and wind up with dead fish.

[@pigeonman7483]

My goldfish tank is always on hard water, how can i fix the problem?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Use RO water, or buy "drinking water" from Walmart. A lot of tannins in the water will soften it, but not very much.

[@jamesprice5176]

How can I safely reduce the GH and KH from my aquarium water?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

You can add RO water, or get a softening system like I have (adds sodium ions though). Tannins will lower GH a little, but not much.

[@ffejkk37]

@@DanHiteshew-oneandonly For most people that dont have a RO/DI filter or softener, what can we do? It seems like the only choice is to settle for fish that fit your water parameters. Other than cichlids, what are some neat fish that like hard water?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

@@ffejkk37 I really don't know many hard water fish, since I have such soft water. Most Syno. catfish come from hard water. There's only a couple of species that I can keep in my soft water. Maybe some Central American fish. (South American fish are mostly, if not all, going to be softwater)

[@jivet3919]

From my very little experience, fish that are commercially bred, such as commercially bred rams, can handle any consistent pH. Most fish have been indirectly bred to be hardier. Chasing water parameters is a waste of time, money, and energy.

[@LatrinaDeshawntey]

pH < 6, kh 1, don’t care. What am I in for?

[@bigbowlowrong4694]

Not much if you keep basically any South American fish. They like soft, acidic water.

[@MattKeepsFish]

People always say that the right hardness helps the fish to do "well," but what does that even mean? Frustrating. What happens when you put a soft water fish in hard water? Vice versa? No answers anywhere.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

I know this is an older video, but I'm pretty sure I remember covering it. It affects the fish's ability to osmoregulate. A hard water fish in soft water will over hydrate, and a soft water fish in hard water will dehydrate.

[@MattKeepsFish]

Dan Hiteshew Oh, don’t get me wrong. I meant that I couldn’t find it anywhere else. You covered it perfectly! And the first time I could find it covered in clarity 😂

[@kylejenkins9389]

Unless you have salt water tank you really shouldn’t worry about gh and KH 🤦‍♂️

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Ok, good luck with that.

[@Miningfox]

In Berlin we have very very hard water. xD

[@AnonymousPerson0182]

Too long.