How to increase the overall hardness of the water in the aquarium. The hardness of the water in the aquarium. What is pH
Water hardness decreases over time in an aquarium. The reason is the processes of decay of organic matter, softening of water due to the installed driftwood or replacement with water of lesser hardness.
There is no problem if you do not keep fish that need increased water hardness. Otherwise, with reduced water hardness, the fish will be oppressed and weakened, which will require raising the carbonate hardness. There are enough aquarium chemicals sold in pet stores to solve this problem. Its use is not suitable immediately for two reasons:
- Proprietary chemical additives are expensive
- Rigidity changes quite drastically
A sharp change in stiffness is fatal for many fish, which will inevitably happen if the dosage is violated. And the best choice is to maintain stiffness naturally.
Increase in pH with increase in hardnessAs a rule, an increase in the carbonate hardness of the water leads to an increase in the pH level. This is due to the fact that calcium and magnesium carbonates affect both parameters at once. In rare cases, you may encounter high hardness of aquarium water at a low pH level. This is due to the presence of sodium and potassium carbonates, which raise the pH but do not affect hardness in the absence of calcium and magnesium carbonates.
In other words, as the hardness of the water increases, so does the pH level. This happens if the current pH level is determined by calcium and magnesium, which is observed in the vast majority of cases.
To smoothly raise the hardness of water in a natural way, there are several simple and affordable ways:
- crushed corals
The downside of using it is the impossibility of calculating the final hardness of the water. After the hardness of the water is fixed at one value, it will no longer change, remaining always at the same level.
crushed corals
Coral skeletons and most mollusk shells contain large amounts of calcium carbonate. Therefore, coral chips are made from them, which are packed in small permeable bags.
Add the bag inside the aquarium filter, and after a couple of hours the water hardness will start to rise. The lifting speed, as well as the final stiffness, is controlled by adding or reducing the amount of coral chips.
Dolomite crumb is used to raise the carbonate hardness of aquarium water. Dolomite, like coral chips, is poured into the aquarium filter, which increases the hardness of the water, but makes it difficult to wash the filter.
Limestone contains high amounts of calcium carbonate and is ideal for raising and maintaining water hardness. A large piece of limestone decorates the aquarium, mimicking a limestone reef from the wild.
Several types of calcareous rocks are used in aquariums: oolite, tuff, dolomite, travertine, aragonite. There is no difference in their use when it comes to water hardness. Add limestone until the desired hardness level is obtained.
SodaBy adding a solution of soda, you can quickly increase the carbonate hardness of water. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 100 liters of aquarium water, after dissolving the baking soda in a glass of water. Pour the prepared solution into a place with a strong current. This will increase the carbonate hardness by 2 degrees.
When increasing hardness, do not be lazy to check the current value, because extremely hard water is deadly for fish and plants.
Experienced aquarium owners are well aware that the life and health of its inhabitants depends on the quality of the water in it. For beginners, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the parameters of the aquatic environment suitable for and who will live in it. In this article, we will consider the hardness of water: its types and methods for determining, bringing to optimally suitable values.
Concept definition
Water is an excellent solvent; it contains a large number of various elements (gases, salts) that determine its chemical and physical qualities, for example, hardness. Let's take a closer look at what this property is.
Hardness of water It is determined by the content of various elements in it, mainly metal salts, of which calcium and magnesium salts have a greater influence on the structure and density. 
Ions of these elements are present in all natural water sources, getting there from the soil, especially rich in limestone, gypsum and dolomites. A high salt content makes the water structure hard, a small one makes it soft.
The amount of salt depends on the body of water itself, for example, fresh water bodies change the indicator during the period of rains or snowmelt to a softer one, and the oceans and seas have a very high value.
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Types of stiffness
Rigidity can be different, therefore, in order to more accurately determine the values, it was divided into three main types.
General
The total is the sum of the values \u200b\u200bof constant and non-constant hardness, that is, the total indicator of calcium and magnesium salts.
Carbonate
In an aquarium, or temporary, is determined by the presence, in addition to calcium and magnesium, of hydrocarbonate anions. Temporary hardness can be eliminated by boiling (in this case, hydrocarbonates will decompose into water, carbon dioxide and a poorly soluble precipitate), therefore it is called temporary. 
Non-carbonate
It is due to the presence of compounds of alkaline earth metals with strong acids: sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric and others, which do not decompose under the influence of high temperatures, but dissolve in water without forming scale. 
Of course, it must be clean, but, besides this, there are also physical and chemical parameters of water that can be poured into the aquarium. These are temperature, acidity, redox potential (amount of oxygen) and hardness.
Briefly about the optimal parameters:
- temperature - +20 ... +23 ° С (it is advisable to check regularly);
- acidity - 6.5-7.5 pH;
- oxygen concentration - 2-5 mg/l;
- hardness - from 5° to 20°.
| O-4dGH | Very soft |
| 4-8dGH | Soft |
| 8-12dGH | Medium |
| 12-18dGH | Moderate |
| 18-30dGH | Rigid |
What indicators are important for the inhabitants of the aquarium depends on the conditions of their natural habitat. Very soft water is not suitable for most fish due to the lack of the necessary amount of calcium in it, without it, pathologies occur during development and the growth of fry slows down. Wither without calcium and magnesium and. For most exotic fish, water with medium, moderate or hard water from 5 dGH to 20 dGH is suitable.
Important! Soft, low-salt water is an ideal environment for those aquatic creatures that naturally live in fresh water and spawn during the rainy season.
Let's figure out what kind of water to fill in the aquarium. Tap water is not suitable for fish, so it must be defended and brought to the desired values with the help of various tricks (more on this below). It is necessary to defend in order to get rid of chlorine, which is used to clean water pipes, for at least three days. 
How to determine the level of hardness
Water for its inhabitants is as important as air for us, so it must meet the living conditions of the inhabitants of the aquarium. Consider how you can determine the hardness of water at home.
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Salt meter (conductivity meter)
A device that measures the salt content in the aquatic environment, the devices are equipped with detailed instructions for use with tables and values that can be used to make interesting calculations.
For home use, hand-held or portable devices are best suited. The first is equipped with stationary or removable electrodes enclosed in a waterproof case, due to its reasonable price it is especially popular.
Portable devices are automated, have built-in memory, several functions, are powered either from the mains or from batteries. 
test strips
You can buy test strips at points of sale. This is, in fact, a litmus test that changes its color upon contact with various substances.
In the special tests for aquariums there is a color chart and detailed instructions for use. There are more expensive kits equipped with additional reagents, usually imported.
Laundry soap
The simplest and least expensive method is determine the value using laundry soap. It is based on the property of soap to bind salts. For the procedure, you will need distilled water, you can buy it at a car dealership.
Sequencing:
- In a measuring cup, dilute a crushed 72% soap gram in a small dose of water.
- Top up with distilled liquid to a level of 7 cm, each centimeter equals 1° dH in 1 litre.
- In a liter jar, draw 500 ml of water that you are examining, add the solution diluted in a measuring cup, stirring until a stable foam forms (it will mean that the salts are bound).
- Look how much soap solution you had to use: each centimeter is equal to 2° dH. This means that if 4 cm of soap solution is used, the hardness is 8° dH.
- No foam means that the value is greater than 12° dH.
Hardness adjustment
When collecting water for an aquarium from natural sources, you need to remember that in fresh water it may be too soft, and well or from a mineral spring too hard. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare water for the aquarium, which is easy to carry out at home.
Raise
To increase the value, add to the aquarium:
- marble, shell rock;
- 25% magnesia solution (1 ml of magnesia per liter of liquid) at 4 degrees;
- sodium chloride (1 ml / l) by three degrees;
- baking soda (2.5 g per 100 l) by two degrees;
- ground shell rock or coral crumbs can be added to.
Important!Keep in mind, by increasing or decreasing the hardness, you can also change the level of acidity, after the procedure, test for the pH level.
downgrade
To reduce the hardness in the aquarium add:
- melt water;
- distilled;
- special capsules with sodium ions (available at the pet store).
Taking care of an aquarium and its inhabitants may be a bit of a hassle, but the benefits are much higher. Firstly, it moisturizes the air, which is especially noticeable in winter; secondly, it is an interesting element of decor; thirdly, watching the unhurried movements of fish and the swaying of plants calms the nervous system.
Today I asked myself - how to reduce the hardness of aquarium water? Everyone knows that some types of fish need soft water, and some hard. Also, many plants need soft water for normal growth. Based on what kind of inhabitants in your aquarium, you need to maintain a certain level of water hardness. Let's find out...
At the moment, the following ways to reduce water hardness are known: boiling, distillation, the use of ion exchange resins, dilution and reverse osmosis. Some of these ways to reduce the hardness of water in an aquarium (boiling, ion exchange resins and distillate) have been known for a very long time. But will we get any noticeable benefit from this? Some parameters may be unstable.
If you begin to reduce the hardness of water, then you significantly reduce the ability of water to restore itself, that is, its buffering capacity. At the slightest change in the balance in the aquarium, and this happens every day (this is due to water changes, day and night changes, food leftovers), the pH level will jump in a different direction, and if there is no buffer, then fluctuations in the pH level will be noticeable. When reducing hardness, you must take into account the most important point - water must be self-healing, especially hard water. Here's a simple example: dilute tap water 50/50 with distillate and you'll get a pH of 6.5 or lower. Do a pH test in a couple of hours and the pH will return to its original value, only the change in the level of the active reaction of the medium will not be linear, but slightly different.
If in your hometown the water from the tap is very hard or poor in mineral salts, which is not at all suitable for aquarium fish, then a number of special measures will have to be taken. If you know that in the aquarium from which you just got the fish the water is soft and in yours it is hard - soften it at least a little. Each method described above should be applied until you fill the aquarium with water.
The easiest way to reduce hardness is to add distilled water. By adding soft water, you will reduce the overall hardness of the water in the aquarium. But here you may encounter certain difficulties - sometimes a decent amount of distillate is required, and it also costs money. The hardness of distilled water is approximately two German degrees. If already distilled water is passed through the distiller again, you will get a bidistillate, the hardness of which will be approximately half a German degree.
But there are also negative aspects to this. In such water there is no dissolved oxygen necessary for the respiration of fish + the level of minerals in it is so meager that the simplest physiological processes simply cannot take place. Therefore, if you want to use such water, you will have to carry out intensive aeration of the aquarium with the addition of remineralizing salts.
If you have a need to reduce the hardness of the water in the aquarium by tens of liters, then it would be more logical for you to use ion-exchange resins. You will treat water with ion exchange columns and various resins in the compartment. There are a huge number of them, but not everyone can be used to change stiffness. However, I want to advise you to buy a special installation that softens the water from our water supply. This is a small container in which grains of ion-exchange resin are located, through which two tubes (outlet and inlet) pass. One tube must be connected to the water supply, and the second will already give out water softer than it entered. The performance of this installation is approximately - tens of liters per hour of soft.
At first, you will get the purest distillate from this apparatus, and then the hardness will gradually increase, since the ability of the ion exchange resin will become much less effective. Such treatment of aquarium water only softens it, but does not demineralize it. It turns out that the installation will remove minerals partially. Only thanks to the ion exchanger you will be able to change the constant hardness, which is used when obtaining water for spawning aquariums.
Another fairly effective way to get soft water, which I also use, is to resort to a reverse osmosis system. These systems are not cheap, but durable. For example, I use a reverse osmosis filter for both the aquarium and for purifying tap water for drinking and cooking. There are several pre-filters in the installation, which I change once every 3-4 months, but the membrane itself is not changed so often - once every 3-5 years.
How to use. Every water change, I simply add 10-15 liters of water purified using osmotic filters to the aquarium. Let me remind you that I have an aquarium of 60 liters, respectively, a 30% replacement (10 liters of tap water and 10 liters from “osmosis”) The beauty of reverse osmosis is that it eliminates almost all impurities. But as in the distillate, there is not enough oxygen here, and it is a bit difficult with minerals. Therefore, as I already wrote, I mix water from "osmosis" and water supply.
There is a lot of controversy and questions on this topic that even sometimes you can get confused. You can often hear that melt water or rainwater can be added to the aquarium. No questions, it is very soft, but there is so much industrial waste in it that you will immediately put it in your jar. Even a small concentration of this rubbish can harm the ecosystem of your home jar.
There is another simple, but in my opinion time-consuming way to get soft water - using freezing. To do this, you need to take a shallow large container of water into the cold and freeze it so that 1/3 or ¼ of the water remains unfrozen in the center. What is not frozen, you will need to drain, and the frozen melt and pour into the aquarium. The hardness of such melted water will be approximately 3 German degrees. It turns out that the frozen liquid is trying to get rid of excess dissolved salts. These salts are pushed to the center of the container and freeze last. There is a very important nuance - you can not miss the key point.
By boiling, you can reduce the hardness of the water, but not the amount of minerals. If you boil water for half an hour, then the hardness after boiling will decrease by almost half. But from the point of view of the content of useful trace elements, boiled water is considered dead, and carbonate hardness is noticeably reduced. After boiling, the water is cooled to room temperature, and then poured with a hose into the upper layers of the aquarium. You are unlikely to achieve a decent reduction in stiffness in this way, but due to its simplicity and accessibility, you can use this method.
Another option to reduce water hardness is to plant elodea, hornwort, char plants and egropile plants in the aquarium. Calcium is deposited on these plants in the form of a crust, which can be washed off with ordinary running tap water.
I want to notify you right away, you can find information on the Internet that it is highly recommended not to use water that has passed through a reverse osmosis system in an aquarium. Say, it is harmful and so on. I do not agree with this statement, tk. I use it SUCCESSFULLY myself and I know that many scapers also use water that has passed through a reverse osmosis system and there are no problems. I have and fish and plants feel great.
You can learn more about all the methods on the network and choose which method to use.
Very often, when deciding to do aquarism, amateurs carefully choose a container for a home pond, think over where to place it, what kind of fish and plants to fill. However, they completely forget about the main and most important component of this entire system - water. As a rule, aquariums are filled with the most readily available water, most often tap water. Few people think about its parameters. And if he thinks, then only about whether it is suitable for fish. However, plants are no less demanding on water, although they react more slowly to its quality.
In this article we will touch on one of the important parameters - stiffness. After all, it not least depends on her whether the aquarium will become the way it was conceived or not.
What is aquarium water hardness?
It is considered the second most important water parameter after acidity. The possibility of keeping and breeding fish and plants depends on it. It affects other properties of water.
This parameter is determined by the presence of certain minerals that are dissolved in water. The overall stiffness consists of two parts:
Permanent (GH). It is paramount, as it determines the softness or hardness of the water and the degree of its suitability for the inhabitants of the aquarium. GH determines the concentration of Ca++ and Mg++ ions in water. Boiling leads to the destruction of bicarbonates and the precipitation of calcium and magnesium. The hardness that remains after boiling is called constant. It is measured in degrees of hardness. And all tests are issued in them.
Variable or carbonate (KH). It is determined by the concentration of carbonates CO3- and bicarbonates HCO3- in water.
Aquarium water hardness
The value of water hardness in the life of the inhabitants of a domestic reservoir is great:
- salts of magnesium and calcium are involved in the construction of the skeleton and bone system of fish;
- in mollusks and crustaceans, they provide the hardness of the shell or shell;
- rigidity contributes to the normal functioning and development of the genital organs;
- it affects the success of plant growth and development, etc.
Rigidity can be of varying degrees of intensity: 0-4 - very soft, 5-8 - soft, 9-16 - medium hardness, 17-32 - hard, 33 or more - very hard. Tap water, as a rule, has a hardness of no more than 20.
The hardness of the water in the aquarium must be within certain limits, usually this range is 3-15 degrees. It is better if for each specific species the indicators are close to the natural conditions of native reservoirs.
For example,
- Snails need hard water because their shells break down in soft water.
- viviparous fish will feel good at 10,
- neon at 6,
- sagittaria and fern at 10-14 degrees, etc. This information can be found in the recommendations for caring for a particular species.
You also need to consider that the inhabitants of the aquarium absorb calcium, so its amount in the water will gradually decrease. It is easier to maintain rigidity at the same level if the soil is pebbles or coarse sand. And, of course, regular measurements will be required.
How to determine the hardness of water in an aquarium?
The main methods are:
Chemical reagent Trilon "B"
This is a very accurate method, but its drawback is excessive complexity for people who are not very interested in chemistry, and not everyone wants to acquire additional chemical equipment at home.
TDS meter
He is a conductometer, he is a salt meter. The method is very simple. However, this electronic device does not measure the hardness itself, but the electrical conductivity of water, which can only indirectly judge hardness.
test strips
They have been specially designed to measure the hardness of water in aquariums. Simple and easy to use. There is an option where a reagent is added to the indicated volume of water and hardness is judged by the changed color. All calculations are made according to the instructions included in the kit. The disadvantage of this method is one - such sets are difficult to buy, since they are rarely on sale.
Laundry soap
This is the most affordable, cheapest and most accurate method at home. It is based on the property of soap: it is difficult to dissolve in hard water and gives foam with an excess of calcium and magnesium salts.
How research is done:
1. Grind laundry soap (1 gram) and carefully pour into a small amount of heated distilled water (sold in car dealerships).
2. Pour the resulting solution into a glass and add the distillate so that its height reaches 6 cm for 60% soap and 7 cm for 72% soap. Each centimeter of such a solution contains as much soap as is required to bind salts, the amount of which is equal to 1 ° dH in 1 liter of water.
3. Half fill a 1 liter jar with aquarium water.
4. Pour the prepared solution into it a little bit, stirring constantly. First, flakes will appear on the surface, and then a stable soapy scum, which indicates that all the salts in the water are bound.
Evaluation of the result. Count how many centimeters of the solution were poured into the water. 1 cm bound in 0.5 l of water 2°dH salts. That is, if 4 cm is poured, then the hardness is 8 degrees, etc. If the entire solution is poured, but there is no foam, then the hardness is above 12 degrees. Then dilute the water for research with distillate twice, repeat the analysis, multiplying the results obtained by two.
The results may have an error of 1-2 degrees, but this is not critical and will not lead to illness or death of the inhabitants of the aquarium.
If the hardness of the water available to the aquarist does not correspond to that which he needs to keep the aquarium inhabitants, then it can be changed. But you need to do this smoothly so as not to cause stress or other problems in your pets.
How to increase the hardness of the water in the aquarium?
1. Mix aquarium water with harder water.
2. Boil water for about an hour. It is better to take enamelware. Then cool it and carefully drain the two upper parts of the volume. Pour the lower third, rich in calcium salts, into the aquarium in portions, controlling the hardness with measurements.
3. Place pieces of shells, marble or limestone into the aquarium to increase the overall hardness by 2-4 degrees. The disadvantage of this method is the inability to control the level of rigidity. It is more preferable to filter the aquarium water through a layer of crushed marble, reducing or increasing the amount of water passing through the filter.
4. Add baking soda in the amount of 1 tsp. per 50 liters of water to increase the variable hardness (KH) by 4 degrees.
5. Add calcium carbonate at the rate of 2 tsp. per 50 liters of water to increase constant (GH) and variable (KH) hardness by 4 degrees.
6. Add a ten percent solution of Ca chloride (available at a pharmacy) and magnesium sulfate (prepare yourself: dissolve 50 g of bitter salt to get 750 ml of solution) into the water in equal proportions (per 1 liter, 1 ml each). Rigidity will increase by about 4 degrees.
7. Pour in magnesia in a 25% solution (1 ml per 1 liter of water). This will raise the stiffness by 4 degrees.
How to lower the hardness of the water in the aquarium?
This is much more difficult to do. The methods are as follows:
1. Add distilled, melted or clean rain water.
2. Boil water, cool it without stirring, and drain 2/3 from the surface. Add this top water to the aquarium.
3. Freeze. Pour water into a low dish, for example, into a basin. Put in the cold. After half of the ice has frozen, break through the ice, pour out the unfrozen water, and melt the ice. Add the resulting water to the aquarium.
4. Drive water through special filters (osmotic and deionization).
5. Filter water through peat added to an external or internal filter or placed in a bag in a container with settled water. Previously, peat for the soil must be boiled. In some spawning grounds, peat is used as a substrate. The yellow tint that it gives to the water can be removed by filtering through activated carbon.
6. You can add a decoction of alder cones. But the hardness from it decreases slightly and the composition of the water may change, which is not good in all cases.
7. Use Trilon-B and EDTA according to the instructions.
8. Plant elodea, aegropile and hornwort.
Now you know what the hardness of water in an aquarium is, how important it is for its inhabitants, and you have an idea how to measure and change it. We hope this information will help you in creating the aquarium of your dreams. Good luck!
How to increase water hardness:: water hardness in an aquarium:: Natural sciences
In order to breed and maintain aquarium fish, it is required that rigidity water in the aquarium was constant. If the aquarium soil consists of coarse sand and river pebbles, then the water in the aquarium will always have a certain rigidity. In aquariums containing fish and shellfish, rigidity decreases over time due to the consumption of calcium by mollusks for the construction of shells. Therefore, it must be periodically increased.
The question “And yet! What came first? "Egg or chicken?" - 12 answers
You will need
- - carbonate rocks;
- - 10% CaCl2 and MgSO4 solutions;
- - 25% magnesium solution;
- - distilled, rain or melt water.
Instruction
1. To boost rigidity water, boil it in an enamel bowl for one hour. Drain gently two-thirds of the water, the remaining, enriched with calcium, gradually pour into the aquarium in a thin stream.
2. Prepare or buy at the pharmacy 10% calcium chloride solution (CaCl2) and 10% magnesium sulfate solution (MgSO4). To boost rigidity water per 1 °dGH apply per 100 l water 18.3 ml of 10% calcium chloride (CaCl2) or 19.7 ml of 10% magnesium sulfate solution (MgSO4). To maintain the required ratio of ions by fish and plants, add these solutions in approximately equal amounts.
3. To increase carbonate hardness, put carbonate rocks (dolomite, chalk, marble, etc.) into aquarium water or pass it through marble chips. But remember that the dissolution of carbonate rocks in water is possible only in the presence of carbon dioxide: CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O -> Ca (HCO3) 2 To do this, add carbonated water to the water or to saturate water CO2 use a special device.
4. To increase the carbonate rigidity per 1° dKH dissolve 1.5 g MgCO3 (magnesium carbonate) or 1.8 g CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) in 100 ml. But it is better to use both salts in equal parts. Add a 25% magnesium solution to the aquarium water at the rate of 1 ml per 1 liter water- so you raise rigidity water at 4H°.
5. Mix settled tap and distilled water. If rigidity water from the tap - 10 N °, then mix 7 parts of distilled water with 3 pieces of tap water to get aquarium water rigidity yu 3 N°.
6. In the absence of distilled water in cities and villages with low air pollution, replace it with rain or melt, rigidity which is 2-3 N°.
7. Place rapan shells or coral chips on the bottom of the aquarium. Boil them for an hour first. Change once a week of the total volume of 10-15% water, do not overpopulate the aquarium, and rigidity water will not be permanent.
Aquarium water, parameters: hardness, pH and others
AQUARIUM WATER, PARAMETERS
One of the most important components of the aquarium world is water as a habitat for aquarium fish and plants.
The parameters of aquarium water, its characteristics directly affect the well-being of your pets and the condition of plants. It is no secret that dirty, muddy water kills fish, spoils the appearance of the aquarium, however, clear water does not always mean that its composition is ideal.
The main parameters and indicators of the quality of aquarium water are:
Aquarium water hardness (hD);
Hydrogen indicator of water "Acidity of aquarium water" (pH);
Redox potential (rH);
AQUARIUM WATER HARDNESS (hD)
Temporary hardness of aquarium water (KH) is the concentration of calcium and magnesium bicarbonate salts formed from weak, unstable carbonic acid. This hardness can change throughout the day. For example, during the daytime, aquarium plants absorb carbon dioxide that accumulates in the water during photosynthesis. If there is not enough carbon dioxide for consumption by plants, they will begin to produce it from bicarbonates, as a result of which the temporary hardness of water will decrease.
Permanent hardness of aquarium water (GH) is the presence of stable calcium and magnesium salts formed from strong acids - hydrochloric, sulfuric or nitric.
How to change the hardness of aquarium water:
1.) Increase in rigidity.
The hardness of KH can be increased by adding 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 50 liters, which will increase the readings by 4°dKH.
HOW TO MEASURE the total hardness of aquarium water at home without special equipment and preparations (sample titration with soapy water):
The pH of the water or "acidity of the aquarium water" (pH of the aquarium water).
Determines the neutral, acidic and alkaline reaction of water at a certain concentration of hydrogen ions.
In chemically pure water, electrolytic dissociation occurs - the decomposition of molecules into hydrogen ions (H +) and hydroxyl ions (OH-), the amount of which in it at a temperature of 25 ° C is always the same and equal to 10-7 g * ion / l. Such water has a neutral reaction. The negative logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions is conventionally used to indicate the pH value and in this case is equal to 7. If there are acids in the water (not chemically pure water), the number of hydrogen ions will be greater than hydroxyl - the water becomes acidic with a lower digital pH. Conversely, in alkaline water, hydroxide ions will predominate and the pH will increase.
Aquarium water with pH parameters:
From 1 to 3 is called/considered strongly acidic;
From 3-5 sour;
From 5-6 slightly acidic;
7 neutral;
7-8 slightly alkaline;
10-14 strongly alkaline;
The pH parameters can change during the day, which is due to the variable concentration of carbon dioxide in the aquarium water, which in turn is stabilized by constant aeration.
Sharp fluctuations in pH values are harmful and painful for aquarium fish and plants. Most aquarium fish prefer a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
HOW TO CHANGE the pH of aquarium water:
If it is necessary to lower the pH value, acidify the water with peat infusion (well, or with special preparations from the Pet ShopJ);
If it is necessary to increase the pH (increase alkalinity) - I use baking soda;
MEASURING the pH of aquarium water:
1. Many pet stores sell testers (litmus papers with phenolphthalein). Actually following the instructions on the packaging and on the scale, you can determine the pH parameters.
2. There are specials. instrument for measuring - PiAshmeter. It is not used for home aquariums (expensive, and why not at all). After all, the main thing is not the frequent measurement of pH parameters, but the conditions for keeping the fish and the aquarium. In a well-groomed, not overcrowded, not overcrowded aquarium with aeration, the pH will always be normal and it is not necessary to measure it often.
Redox potential (rH of water, ORP of water).
The essence of the redox process in aquarium water is that all the substances in it react with each other. In this case, one substance gives up its electrons and becomes positively charged ( oxidized), while the other acquires electrons and becomes negatively charged ( recovering). As a result, a difference in electrical potentials arises between substances of different discharges. Simply put: oxidation is the reaction of the combination of nitrites with oxygen, and recovery- on the contrary, the decomposition of nitrites with the release of oxygen.
The maximum oxidation potential of water is 42rH.
Options:
rH 40-42 - maximum oxidation (pure oxygen);
rH 35 - strong oxidation;
rH 30 - slight oxidation;
rH 25 - weak oxidation;
rH 20 - weak recovery;
rH 15 - slight recovery;
rH 10 - strong recovery;
rH 5-0 - maximum recovery (pure hydrogen);
Almost all aquarium fish and plants feel comfortable at rH 25-35. Some species prefer narrower parameters of this value.
rH is measured with special meters.
Increase the rH of the water by regular water changes, maintenance - cleaning the aquarium, as well as blowing air and using ozone.
SO:
We have learned about the main parameters of aquarium water, the observance of which will be an unconditional guarantee of the health of fish and the beauty of plants.
There are other values/parameters that characterize aquarium water. However, they are not as significant as hD and pH. To maintain a home aquarium, it is simply not necessary to know and monitor them. As Sherlock Holmes said: "... an intelligent person carefully selects what he puts in his brain attic."
OPTIMAL AQUARIUM WATER PARAMETERS (hD of water, pH of water, ORP of water) IT IS FREQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY COMMON CARE OF THE AQUARIUM AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES OF KEEPING ITS RESIDENTS: do not make a hostel out of the aquarium, do not overload it with plants, ensure constant aeration and filtration, carry out regular water changes with fresh water and then the created aquarium world will only please you!
Creating his own “underwater world”, each aquarist thinks over not only the layout of accessories, but also the composition of the inhabitants, the placement of all the necessary details. And very rarely the thought comes to mind about how good water will fill the volume of the bowl. But it is precisely this question that should be seriously considered.
The composition of water, why it is important and for whom
It is a deep misconception that the quality indicator of the aquarium liquid only affects the fish, but is completely unimportant for algae and other representatives of the flora. Hydrophytes are demanding not only to the composition of the liquid, but also to filling it with oxygen, sunlight. However, when the mobile inhabitants of the aquarium show an almost instantaneous reaction to bad conditions, which can be easily established only by observing the behavior of the fish, then the plants do not have this opportunity. The slow reaction of algae does not allow you to identify the problem immediately.
But what should be the water? As a rule, tap water is poured, a couple of days settled water. Less often, the bowl is filled with clear liquid from artesian wells, springs or reservoirs, where the habitat is considered the most suitable for the inhabitants of the home "sea". The owners know little about the characteristics of tap water, but the normal life of the inhabitants of your aquarium depends on this.
What is important to know about water:
- active reaction indicator - pH;
- the presence of certain impurities.
Another important factor is the impact of biological components that appear from time to time, which sometimes change and thus affect the characteristics of the water. This also needs to be kept under control.
More about water characteristics
An approximately constant value relative to a certain area, affecting many other characteristics, as well as providing comfortable conditions for all the inhabitants of the aquarium. It depends on the presence of calcium and magnesium salts dissolved in a certain volume of water. The measurement is made on a degree scale. Happens:
- softened or soft;
- medium hard;
- hard;
- overly rigid.
Indicators for keeping aquarium inhabitants often vary, so it is important to choose just such a rigidity that will suit all living individuals of the aquarium.
How to influence the level of water hardness
Here are a few options:
If your aquarium plants need water of strictly defined indicators, and there is no way to lower the available liquid, do this: the base is distilled water, and calcium chloride or Epsom salts will help to bring it to a hardness level.
And a little more about water softening options:
- Boiling. This is a great way to lower your salt levels. Cool the boiling water and collect only the surface 4/5 of the total volume of water. Do not mix layers! The bottom layer will just collect all unnecessary salts, but the water from the surface has the necessary softness.
- Slightly less effective, but an additive from decoctions is applicable. For example, a decoction of alder cones. Not a very good option, as is enriching the liquid with peat extract. The biological balance of water can be disturbed to a great extent, which will affect the growth of algae, the ability to fertilize and the spawning of fish.
With some negativity of the latter method, it is necessary to mitigate and stimulate the spawning abilities of characinids.
The decrease or increase in water hardness must be calculated individually, based on the characteristics of the content of fish and plants. Any types and methods are averaged. But having several available drugs on hand, you can still arrange comfortable conditions for your pets. The main thing - do not forget to clean the bowl, as a rule, any biological changes occur due to the presence of food residues, waste products and dead plant pieces in the water.
What is the hardness of aquarium water, how to reduce it
HARDNESS (hD)- due to the presence of soluble salts of calcium and magnesium in water. Their concentration in aquarium water is TOTAL HARDNESS, which can be divided into TEMPORARY - CARBONATE and PERMANENT - NON-CARBONATE.
Temporary hardness (KH) is the concentration of calcium and magnesium bicarbonate salts formed from weak, unstable carbonic acid. This hardness can change throughout the day. For example, during the daytime, aquarium plants absorb carbon dioxide that accumulates in the water during photosynthesis. If there is not enough carbon dioxide for consumption by plants, they will begin to produce it from bicarbonates, as a result of which the temporary hardness of water will decrease.
Permanent hardness (GH) is the presence of stable calcium and magnesium salts formed from strong acids - hydrochloric, sulfuric or nitric.
Water hardness is essential for the life of the aquarium world. Firstly, calcium and magnesium salts are used in the construction of the skeleton and affect the construction of the entire body of the fish. For different types of aquarium fish, the indicators of water hardness are different and non-compliance with them can lead to a deterioration in the well-being of the fish, to a violation of the function of reproduction and fertilization of eggs.
The total hardness of aquarium water is measured in German degrees (hD). 1° hD is 10 mg of calcium oxide in 1 liter of water.
Aquarium water with hardness parameters:
from 1 to 4 ° hD - considered very soft;
from 4 to 8 ° hD - is considered soft;
from 8 to 12 ° hD - medium hardness;
from 12 to 30 ° hD - is considered very hard;
Most aquarium fish feel comfortable with a hardness of 3-15° hD.
How to change water hardness:
1.) Increase in rigidity.
The hardness of KH can be lowered by adding 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 50 liters, which will increase the readings by 4°dKH.
2 teaspoons of calcium carbonate per 50 liters of water will increase both KH and GH by 4 degrees.
Another measure for a smooth / gradual increase in water hardness is to spread and decorate the aquarium with seashells.
2.) Reducing stiffness (here it's more complicated):
Use / add distilled water, which is sold in stores;
Use / add rain, snow, melt water from the refrigerator (must be clean, without turbidity and impurities).
Filter water through an osmotic filter;
Filter water through peat (peat is added to the filter) or into a container where water settles;
The hardness of KH is reduced by boiling water in an enameled bowl for 1 hour, followed by settling for a day;
Fast-growing plants are natural water softeners: elodea, hornwort, nias, vallisneria.
HOW TO MEASURE the total hardness of water at home without spec. equipment and preparations (sample titration with soapy water):
The peculiarity of this method is that 10 mg of calcium oxide in 1 liter of water is neutralized by 0.1 g. pure soap.
1. 60-72% laundry soap is taken, crumbled.
2. Water (distilled, snow, thawed water from the refrigerator) is poured into a measuring cup (or other measuring vessel) - then distillate.
3. Soap crumbs (counted in grams) are added to the water, so that it is possible to calculate the portion small in the resulting solution.
4. Pour 0.5 liters of the tested aquarium water into another dish and gradually add portions of the soap solution (0.1 g each), shake.
First, bluish flakes and rapidly disappearing bubbles appear on the surface of the water. Gradually adding portions of the soap solution, we wait until all the calcium and magnesium oxide binds - stable soap bubbles with a characteristic iridescent overflow will appear on the surface of the water.
This experience is over. Now we count the number of soap portions used, multiply them in two (there was 0.5 l of aquarium water, not 1 l.). The resulting number will be the hardness of the aquarium water in degrees. For example, 5 soaps*2= 10° hD.
With careful experimentation, the error can be + -1 ° hD.
When obtaining a hardness result of more than 12 ° hD, the measurement accuracy decreases, it is recommended to conduct an experiment by re-diluting the aquarium water by 50% with distillate, doubling the result.
❶ How to reduce hardness in an aquarium: Equipment and accessories
In urban water supply, the water hardness index is quite high, so often the aquarist needs to lower it. The inhabitants of the aquarium feel good in water with a hardness level of 3 to 15 degrees. Some types of snails cannot live in soft water as their shells begin to break down. Live-bearing fish should be kept in water with rigidity about 10 degrees. For neon fish, the water hardness index should not exceed 6 degrees. Sagittaria and water fern germinate well in water with rigidity 10-14 degrees, and Uviranda dies even at 5 degrees.
Instruction
1. Keep in mind that the level of water hardness varies with the season. Many people know that boiling reduces this level well, but this only applies to the temporary component of hardness. In stable seasons - towards the end of summer and towards the end of winter - it increases, and rains and floods lead to water softening. Therefore, in the spring, fish are preparing for spawning and plants begin to grow.
2. Plants such as elodea, hara algae, and hornwort perfectly soften water. Their leaves and stems are usually covered with a crust, which is a precipitate of calcium salts. Plants do not absorb carbon dioxide at night, and in the process of respiration of living beings in a reservoir, it accumulates in aquarium, as a result, the hardness of the water increases. If there are sharp fluctuations in the level of hardness at night and during the day due to the presence of a large number of these plants, this can kill all animals in just one night: they simply suffocate. That is why the “blooming” of water is a very unpleasant and dangerous phenomenon in aquarium. Be aware that this can start in brightly lit tanks with rotting food leftovers. Adding distilled water will help reduce the permanent hardness of the water.
3. In addition to the usual boiling, there is another method for obtaining water from rigidity, which is close to zero. To do this, it is necessary to fix a glass plate in front of the spout of a boiling kettle. On its lower edge, place a container to collect condensed vapors. The water obtained in the tank in this way will have a hardness close to zero.
4. Water hardness can be reduced by simple freezing. Pour 3/4 of water into an empty plastic bottle, close and place in the freezer. When about half of the water is frozen, remove the container from the refrigerator. After that, carefully cut the bottle and remove the frozen part of the water. This piece of ice, when melted, will become water with a very low hardness level.
How to soften the water in the aquarium? Hard water in an aquarium
Water hardness is one of the most common and complex problems that aquarists have. It has a negative effect on all types of fish, other inhabitants of the aquarium and aquatic plants. There are several ways to help soften water.
The easiest and most gentle way to soften is to plant special plants in the aquarium - for example, hornwort or elody. They are able to reduce the concentration of magnesium and calcium salts, which will lead to the elimination of excessive rigidity.
Another method involves the use of rain or distilled water. Soft water that can be added to an aquarium can be purchased at pet stores, pharmacies, or the bird market. If you decide to use rainwater, then first it should be cleaned of debris and filtered. The amount of water depends on the level of hardness, but most often 2 soft water is added to 1 liter of hard water.
How to soften the water in the aquarium using special tools? Install a membrane in the aquarium, which can be bought at any pet store. It will help rid the water of harmful impurities; in addition, you can get ion-exchange resins, which also soften the water.
If you are filling the aquarium for the first time, then do not pour water from the tap right away - let it stand for a few days, and then boil it. This method is not recognized by all aquarists, since it can only slightly soften the water. If the water is very hard, then boiling will not work.
The most effective method, which is used by many experienced aquarium owners, is special aquarium chemicals, which are sold in pet stores. Hard water in the aquarium thanks to these products is significantly softened. At the same time, these substances do not have any effect on the fish and plants in the aquarium. They only affect the layers that create increased water hardness.
If you resort to the help of chemicals, then purified water will not differ in any way from ordinary soft water: harmful substances will evaporate.
Each aquarist chooses his own ways of dealing with water hardness: someone prefers natural, gentle ones, while others recognize only radical chemical ones; the main thing is that this choice is correct and effective, and all the inhabitants of the aquarium do not experience discomfort. Be sure to monitor the condition of the water in the aquarium and reduce its hardness in time.
How to measure water hardness in an aquarium:: what is water hardness measured in:: Animals:: Other
As the first half of the well-known proverb says - the fish is looking for where it is deeper. But not all representatives of this mysterious world have the opportunity to make at least some choice. In particular, those of them who spend their lives in captivity are often content with the conditions that the “golden cage” - the aquarium offers them. The most important condition for the normal life of aquarium fish is good water.
The question "Why are cats not a product when there are already reviews about them" - 1 answer
Instruction
1. The main property is important water – rigidity, the level of which is determined by the presence of calcium and magnesium ions in the liquid, is measured in degrees. So, 30 ° and above is a sign of high rigidity, and 11-18 ° is medium. Rigidity water measure and control each time it is changed or topped up. As a rule, aquarists use instruments for measuring.
2. Take a regular test tube. Pour water into it and add liquid soap drop by drop. Drop - shake the test tube, drop again and shake gently again. The hardness level is determined by the number of soap drops.
3. Carbonate or temporary rigidity at home can be measured using a pH indicator. Draw 1 ml of 70% vinegar essence into a disposable syringe and dilute 50 ml of distilled or well-boiled water(Boil for 20 minutes, then cool and, without stirring, drain the "top" water).
4. Further in the same 50 ml, but already aquarium water, drip 8 drops of the indicator, and then, gently shaking it, add a solution of vinegar to this water. Its color will begin to change: yellow - salad - with a hint of orange. After that, measuring how much vinegar you spent, multiply the resulting millimeters by two - the resulting number will be carbonate rigidity yu in milliequivalents. Of course, this method is not entirely accurate, because the change in the color of the indicator is not clear enough.
5. You can go the other way: just buy a test or a special device for measuring "water" hardness in a pet store (although this is not the most "economical" method of existing, but relatively accurate). Experienced "holders" of aquarium fish have appropriate signs (for example, increased rigidity water requires more soap to create foam, "generates" plaque inside the kettle, etc.) Watch the water before you add it to the aquarium.
6. And now some tips. To reduce rigidity water in your aquarium, add distilled or clean rainwater to it, use special plants, such as elodea and hornwort. In addition, water can be frozen or boiled well. In the first case, it is poured into a low basin and exposed to frost. As soon as it freezes to half the capacity, the ice is broken through and, having melted, is used for the aquarium. In the second, water is boiled for an hour in an enameled cup, after which it is allowed to cool and two thirds of the “top” are used. water.
Water is called hard if it contains a large amount of magnesium and calcium salts. Such water in everyday life is usually very disliked due to the fact that it forms a layer of scale on kettles and pots and prevents soap from foaming.
You will need
- Methodical publication on analytical chemistry.
Instruction
1. Rigidity water There are two types: carbonate (temporary) and non-carbonate (permanent). The first is removed by boiling (about an hour). After that, a white precipitate (calcium carbonate) and carbon dioxide are formed. The second is more difficult to eliminate: either chemically or by distillation. General hardness water determined by the sum of permanent and temporary stiffness. In chemistry, hardness is expressed as the sum of milliequivalents of calcium and magnesium ions in 1 liter water. One milliequivalent of hardness is equal to 20.04 milligrams of calcium ions or 12.16 milligrams of magnesium ions in 1 liter water.
2. One way to measure hardness is titration. To carry it out, it is necessary to place 100 ml of the test substance into two conical flasks. water, 5 ml of buffer solution, 1 ml of sodium sulfide and 5-6 drops of black chromogen indicator ET-00 (measured pipettes must be used). After stirring, the solutions have a pink color.
3. Then the resulting mixture is titrated with Trilon B using a microburette. Trilon B is added carefully, drop by drop, until a blue color is obtained. Further, it is noted how many ml of Trilon B went for titration with an accuracy of hundredths. Two samples are titrated for the purity of the experiment.
4. The next step is the average volume, using a simple formula Vav = (V1 + V2) / 2, where V1 is the volume of Trilon B, which went to titrate the solution in the first flask, ml, V2 is the volume of Trilon B, which went to titrate the solution in the second flask. And the last thing to do in this method is to calculate the hardness using the formula W = (Vav * N * 1000) / V, where Vav is the average volume of Trilon B, which went for titration in two flasks, ml (calculated according to the above formula), N - the normal concentration of Trilon B, 1000 - recalculated per 1 liter water, V is the volume of the water, ml If it is necessary to express the stiffness in degrees, then the resulting number should be multiplied by a factor of 2.8.
5. With a hardness of up to 4 mg-eq/l, water is considered soft, from 4 to 8 mg-eq/l of medium hardness, from 8 to 12 mg-eq/l of hard water and over 12 mg-eq/l of especially hard water. Of course, in the conditions of a modern laboratory, the rigidity water can be measured not only by titration, but also by various instruments, such as a conductometer and electronic devices. If it is possible to work on such equipment, then it is easier, more efficient and more accurate. But the titration method is quite accurate and simple.
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How to increase water hardness in a freshwater aquarium?
Aquarium water. Water hardness (dH) http://www.ekzotika.com/aqua34
.... In an aquarium containing fish and shellfish, water hardness gradually decreases: calcium is used to build shellfish shells, it is absorbed by fish and plants. In an empty aquarium, water hardness increases due to the constant evaporation of water, as well as the transition of calcium into the water from the soil. Plants such as hornwort and elodea can be used to soften water. To increase the hardness, small pieces of limestone, chalk, marble chips, shells, magnesium chloride and calcium can be added to the water. General hardness (dH - from the English expression "Degrees of Hardeness" - "degrees of hardness") Measure the level of dH. On sale there are drugs that allow you to quickly determine the total and temporary hardness (KH) of water. To do this, pour a certain amount of water into the burette and drop the drug into it, slightly shaking the burette after each drop. The number of drops used to obtain the color of water, the color of which is indicated in the instructions, corresponds to degrees of hardness.
On the aquarium sites, everything is chewed to the bone. Pre-revolutionary methods and modern methods are described with the calculation of all chemical formulas. Just like that in the search and type as the question is formulated. In general, 2 tablespoons of baking soda for every 100 liters. water. Ph above 8.2 will not rise. When changing water in the future, add 0.5-0.7 teaspoon per bucket of water. In order to avoid a sharp increase in hardness, add the solution gradually in several steps.
Alex
Baking soda does not affect water hardness in any way! Hardness is the sum of divalent ions, mainly calcium and magnesium. The easiest way is to put a shell or coral sprig in the aquarium. You can pour marble or dolomite chips into the filter. The hardness will increase to saturation and will continue to increase due to the dissolution of carbonates by organic acids. In most cases, nothing more is needed. If you want to adjust the hardness to a degree, you need to buy a hardness meter with an ion-selective electrode (very expensive) or a test indicator - very cheap. And then add pK agent and measure.
How to recognize water hardness in an aquarium?
Dimka Miller
There are several methods for determining the hardness of water. To do this, in specialized stores they purchase drugs that allow you to quickly determine the permanent and temporary hardness of water. According to the instructions for these drugs, a certain amount of water is poured into the burette and the drug is dropped into it, shaking the burette after each drop. The number of drops used to obtain the color of water indicated in the instructions corresponds to the degrees of hardness.
Water hardness can be determined by the soap method, based on the fact that 10 mg of calcium oxide in 1 liter of water is neutralized by 0.1 g of soap. To do this, 2-3 g of laundry soap is diluted in warm distilled water. This solution is then poured into a graduated vessel. 0.1 g of soap solution is poured into 1 liter of aquarium water until soap bubbles with a rainbow tint appear on the surface. The number of servings of 0.1 g is equal to the number of degrees of water hardness. With very hard water, to increase the measurement accuracy, the water is diluted by half with distilled water, and the measurement result is multiplied by 2. For most aquarium fish and plants, water with a hardness of 3 to 16 ° C can be considered the most acceptable.
For keeping and breeding aquarium fish, tap water is not soft enough, it has to be softened. The main method of softening water is mixing it in certain proportions with distilled or rain water.
Or mix tap water with softer, purified water. Before mixing, tap water is heated for 40 minutes to 90 ° C, and then cooled.
Hardness can be reduced by boiling water for 1 hour, then the water is cooled and 2/3 of the upper layer of water is used, but some of the nutrients needed by plants are lost.
You can reduce the hardness of water several times by simple freezing. To do this, pour water into a low polyethylene vessel (the container is not completely filled, as the water expands when frozen) and put it in the freezer. After the water is about half frozen, the container is removed from the freezer and kept warm for some time in order to remove a piece of ice without any extra effort. The remaining salt-rich water is drained, a piece of ice is placed in a clean bowl, melted, the resulting soft water is brought to the desired temperature, after which it can be used for its intended purpose.
The hardness of the water in an aquarium containing fish and shellfish gradually decreases naturally: calcium is consumed by the shellfish building their shells, it is absorbed by plants and crabs.
If coarse sand and river pebbles are used as the substrate, the aquarium water will have a more or less constant hardness. To soften the water, aquarium plants such as elodea and hornwort are used.
There are special softeners that work on the basis of ion-exchange acrylic resins. In this case, water with pieces of acrylic resin added to it should settle for 1-3 weeks. After that, it is drained through a hose into the aquarium, leaving a small layer of water at the bottom of the settling vessel.
You can increase the hardness of water by boiling it for 1 hour and using the lower layer after cooling. You can increase the hardness of water by mixing it with harder water.
Andrey
If you are not going to breed very delicate fish (such as discus or angelfish), then for most fish water hardness is not so important. They have been living in the water of the area where you bought them for the hundredth generation. But keep an eye on the heater. Or evaporate a couple of grams in a test tube. If there is scale, then the water is hard. In any case, the water evaporates and the hardness of the remaining increases. For any you will have to add water from the tap (after settling of course). So trying to maintain a strictly defined rigidity is useless.
In shopping malls or offices, you are increasingly stopping by beautifully designed aquariums. You have a desire to have such beauty in your home or apartment, but the fear of not being able to cope with the care of the aquarium and its inhabitants stops you from the last step. Do not be afraid, subject to certain rules and recommendations, you will quickly get used to your new hobby.
Our articles will definitely help you get comfortable in the interesting world of aquarism.
Hardness of water.
The habitat of aquarium fish and plants is water. That's where we'll start. We have been dealing with water since childhood, its chemical formula is familiar to us from school. However, the water that we deal with every day and that we will use in our aquarium is not just H2O. Water is a complex chemical solution containing many salts and metals. Water has a number of indicators and characteristics, one of which is hardness.
The content of calcium and magnesium in water determines the concept of hardness. The unit of measure for water hardness is mmol-eq. the amount of magnesium and calcium ions contained in 1 liter of water. One mmol equivalent is equal to 20.04 mg of calcium or 12.16 mg of magnesium in water. In practice, aquarists refer to hardness as dH and measure it in degrees. 1 degree of hardness is 10 mg of calcium oxide or 7.19 mg of magnesium oxide in 1 liter of water. 1 degree of hardness is equal to 0.35663 mmol-equiv.
Do not be alarmed, this is background information and you do not need to memorize it. Experts have calculated everything, and the results have been summarized in understandable tables with which you can check.
Very soft - 0 to 4° dH
Soft water - 5 to 8° dH
Medium hard water - 9 to 12° dH
Fairly hard water - 13 to 18° dH
Hard water - 19 to 30° dH
Very hard water - over 30°dH
Many types of aquarium fish and plants feel good, grow and develop only in water with a certain hardness. If the water in your area is too hard, or vice versa, too soft, then it must be prepared so that the dH is suitable for the conditions in which aquarium animals are kept. There are several ways to change the hardness of water.
But before considering these methods, it is necessary to determine the dH level of the water in the aquarium.
The easiest way is to use the test that pet stores offer. Its disadvantage is the high cost.
The method is more complicated, but doable at home, based on the fact that about 0.1 g of ordinary soap is neutralized by 10 mg of calcium oxide in 1 liter of water. To measure the level of water hardness, we need: a syringe with divisions of 1 ml, distilled water, a volume of 10 ml, and 1 g of laundry soap. We heat the water, grind the soap and dissolve it in a given volume of warm water. We collect aquarium water in a half-liter container, add a soap solution from a syringe in portions of 1 ml and shake the contents of the container. We add the solution until soap bubbles of large size appear on the surface.
The resulting number of milliliters of soap solution is multiplied by 2 and we get the hardness of the water being tested. The measurement error must be within ±1°.
Now knowing the hardness of water, we proceed to its preparation.
To increase the hardness of water, use the following methods:
Boil water for about an hour, then cool and select, without stirring, 2/3 of the volume from above, and pour the remaining volume into the aquarium;
Put a small amount of pieces of ordinary limestone into the aquarium;
Add baking soda at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 50 liters of water. This procedure increases the level of dH by 4 degrees;
Adding two teaspoons of calcium carbonate, which is sold in tablet form in pharmacies, to 50 liters of water will increase the hardness by 4 degrees.
To reduce the hardness of water, do the following:
Cool the water boiled for half an hour, and without stirring, select half and pour into the aquarium;
Add distilled water, which is sold in pharmacies and pet stores, while controlling the level of hardness;
Use rain or melt water, after filtering it;
Add peat to a container where water settles. For fish species requiring a hardness level of 1-2 degrees, put peat on the bottom in the form of soil.
