Understanding water hardness

[Fish]

I don’t get it I’ve checked the water hardness and have added a screenshot. But I can’t see how those numbers relate to 4 dGH? I was reading up on cardinal tetra as I was hoping I could add these first when I’d finished cycling my tank and apparently that’s what they are happy in. I can’t believe how complicated this all is… I’ve finally got my head around the cycling process but it feels never ending, what fish go with other fish, what the hardness is, what the ph is, what the temp is. Dogs are so much easier

[fr499y]

Can I ask where you got the 4 dGH from? As from that screenshot its 16 dGH which is hard.

[DuzMano]

Can I ask where you got the 4 dGH from? As from that screenshot its 16 dGH which is hard.

I think he was referring to the 4dgh as that being the suitable conditions for the tetras he hopes to get, rather than what his actual parameters are? I'm probably wrong tho, but just how I read it!

[Fish]

Can I ask where you got the 4 dGH from? As from that screenshot its 16 dGH which is hard.

I think he was referring to the 4dgh as that being the suitable conditions for the tetras he hopes to get, rather than what his actual parameters are? I'm probably wrong tho, but just how I read it!

No you’re not wrong! You’re spot on

[fr499y]

Ah yes that makes more sense. I thought you had a reading of 4 from somewhere but the supplier is higher.

You'll want to look at hard water fish Here are some examples for you.

Smaller livebearers:- Endler guppy, Guppy or Mosquitofish ( Males only for the colour and to stop breeding )
some tetras are ok with harder water like the x-ray tetra
Harlequin Rasbora seem to be ok in hardwater, I've had a group for over 7 years without a single loss.
Cherry barbs are ok in harder water but like it a bit cooler
Neo shrimp ( Cherries ) and Amano do well in hard water
Celebes rainbowfish should do ok in hard water as well, but your limited on tank size really.

I'd recommend going with one type of fish and get a small group, maybe guppies as they come in some lovely colours, or a group of harlequin rasboras.

[Fish]

Can I ask where you got the 4 dGH from? As from that screenshot its 16 dGH which is hard.

Google told me cardinal tetras need 4 dGH But I can’t understand how you know that the screenshot I showed means I have 16 dGH, I don’t see that written there at all… oh wait, is it the degrees German part? So cardinal tetras are definitely off the list then

[fr499y]

Yes degrees german is General Hardness dGH.

[Fish]

Ah yes that makes more sense. I thought you had a reading of 4 from somewhere but the supplier is higher.

You'll want to look at hard water fish Here are some examples for you.

Smaller livebearers:- Endler guppy, Guppy or Mosquitofish ( Males only for the colour and to stop breeding )
some tetras are ok with harder water like the x-ray tetra
Cherry barbs are ok in harder water but like it a bit cooler
Neo shrimp ( Cherries ) and Amano do well in hard water
Celebes rainbowfish should do ok in hard water as well, but your limited on tank size really.

Sorry I’ve just read my post and I can see why you were confused, my bad.

Thank you, I’ll have a look at the xray tetra and go from there. I didn’t want a tank full of fish, I was really hoping for a school of tetra and some cool looking bottom dwellers/feeders like unusual snails (that don’t multiply by the hour or eat all of my plants) and the Thai minature crabs but I haven’t checked the water hardness with them yet or compatibility and what I have read so far seems to say you rarely see them and they don’t live past 6 months to a year.

I also haven’t checked the ph yet, should I wait as I added more ammonia today?

I’d really like to plan what to get and in what order while I wait for the cycle.

[fr499y]

You can do. Test the tap and tank water to get an idea what you are working with Sometimes it can raise or lower slightly in the tank due to sand/rock etc.

Take a look at Nerite snails and Rabbit snails. Nerites will lay eggs everywhere but they won't hatch in fresh water and Rabbit snails need a pair to breed and even then, will only have a few babies at a time. Both come in strange colourations

[Fish]

You can do. Test the tap and tank water to get an idea what you are working with Sometimes it can raise or lower slightly in the tank due to sand/rock etc.

Take a look at Nerite snails and Rabbit snails. Nerites will lay eggs everywhere but they won't hatch in fresh water and Rabbit snails need a pair to breed and even then, will only have a few babies at a time. Both come in strange colourations

Okay I’ll do that later and see, thank you.

Also something that’s been on my mind, what on earth do you do with the excess fish when they lay eggs or give birth? Do they eat them? I live in a tiny 2 up 2 down so getting extra tanks is not an option really and I’m started to get concerned about being over run.

Ah yes I was looking at rabbit snails yesterday!

I presume there isn’t a way to soften the water?