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In this blog I provide guidance on improving your soft tap water by adding essential minerals and, importantly, how to avoid the steady increase in these minerals due to evaporation and other contributing factors over time. I also help you understand your aquarium's GH and KH, going beyond basic water change advice. General Hardness (GH) and Carbonate Hardness (KH): Are you testing for them in your planted aquarium? If not, you might be overlooking two of the most important yet often least understood water parameters. The Practical Aquarist is dedicated to bringing GH and KH into the spotlight and providing clear guidance on understanding, testing, and maintaining these essential elements for a thriving planted tank. 6 degrees of German hardness (6 °dH) sits right in the sweet spot for many common freshwater community fish, which do well between 4 °dH and 8 °dH – and represents my target for optimal planted aquarium water. In these pages, I focus specifically on using soft tap wate...
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Understanding Water Hardness: GH vs. KH & Choosing the Best Water for Your Aquarium

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In this article, we will consider water. From pure water to soft and hard tap water, water hardness, and adding minerals to water. General Hardness (GH): The Mineral Content What most people refer to as "water hardness" is actually General Hardness (GH). GH measures the concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium ions in water. These minerals are the primary contributors to what we perceive as "hard" or "soft" water. Higher concentrations of calcium and magnesium mean harder water, while lower concentrations indicate softer water. GH is typically measured in degrees of German hardness (°dH). Carbonate Hardness (KH): Buffering pH In contrast to GH, Carbonate Hardness (KH) measures the concentration of carbonate and bicarbonate ions in water. While KH is sometimes called "carbonate hardness," this can be misleading. KH does not directly contribute to the "hardness" in the way GH does (i.e., it doesn't make the water feel harde...
Location: Canada
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How to Test GH and KH in Your Aquarium: A Step-by-Step Guide

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This page assumes you already understand what General Hardness (GH) and Carbonate Hardness (KH) are and why they're important for your aquarium. This focuses solely on the testing process itself, using liquid test kits, the most common and reliable method for home aquarists. What You'll Need: Your chosen liquid GH test kit. Your chosen liquid KH test kit. The test vials included with the kits. A clean container for your aquarium water sample. Testing Procedure (GH and KH are tested similarly): Prepare the Vial: Rinse the test vial thoroughly with a small amount of your aquarium water. This prevents contamination and ensures accurate results. Discard this rinse water. Collect the Sample: Fill the vial with the specified amount of aquarium water as indicated in the test kit instructions. For best results, collect the sample from the main body of the aquarium, avoiding areas near decorations or the substrate. Don't test immediately after a water change; wait a few hours. Add R...
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Location: Canada
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GH Creep in a Freshwater Aquarium Explained: Why Topping Off Isn’t Enough & How to Prevent it

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Many aquarists rely on topping off instead of regular water changes, or perform infrequent water changes. These practices, while convenient, can lead to serious problems, including "GH Creep" and the accumulation of other harmful substances in the water. GH Creep refers to the gradual increase in General Hardness (GH), measured in degrees of German hardness (°dH), in aquarium water due to the accumulation of minerals. This article explains why, comparing a theoretical ideal with a typical home aquarium. Scenario 1: The Perfectly Controlled, Empty Tank   Imagine a sterile tank with just 100 liters of water at a GH of 6 °dH and a KH of 3 °dH. Consistent water changes use replacement water with identical GH and KH values. Even evaporation is precisely controlled. In this idealized system, GH and KH remain perfectly stable because no internal or external factors alter mineral concentrations. Scenario 2: The Real-World Aquarium   A 100-liter aquarium is set up with substrate, hard...
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Location: Canada
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Optimizing Water Changes: How to Manage GH/KH for a Stable Aquarium

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Maintaining stable General Hardness (GH) and Carbonate Hardness (KH) is important for a thriving aquarium. Regular water changes are the primary tool for managing mineral accumulation and maintaining balance, but the type of water used for those changes plays a key role. This article focuses on optimizing water changes using soft water or water that closely matches your aquarium's current parameters. We assume you are already familiar with the concepts of soft and hard water. For reference, soft water is generally considered to have a GH of less than 4 °dH. Addressing Higher Than Desired Hardness with Gradual Reduction Should testing reveal general hardness (GH) and carbonate hardness (KH) levels exceeding your target, especially if regular testing has been absent, water changes with softer water offer a suitable method for gradual adjustment. While higher hardness may not present an immediate issue for all species, achieving the intended parameters often remains the goal. Importan...
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Location: Canada
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