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OK everyone here's my situation. I went to do my weekly water change this morning, and as always I tested the water hardness out of the faucet before beginning. The hardness is usually a steady 75-100ppm and today it was reading almost 300ppm??? I've tested it twice this afternoon and I'm still getting the same readings.

I decided not to do the water change and maybe wait a day or two to see if it comes down. If it doesn't come back down, are there any reliable products out there to help with this problem? If anyone suffers from hard water I would greatly appreciate any suggestions with this matter.

By the way, I have a 29 gal planted tank with 3 SAE, 2 Flame Gouramis, & 2 metallic Blue Gouramis.

Is your testing kit working correctly? I would also contact your water supply and ask about your concern. Also contact several LFS in your area to see if they are have the same problem it might just be a very local concern.
Also get a full water supply test done at your LFS just incase there is a problem with your test kit.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Keith

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Test your tank and if it shows an odd value there too then it might be the test kit. Although if you've been topping off at all with tapwater then the hardness would be nearly equivalent. Also check your water softener. If it's run out of salt the hardness of your tap would increase.

If you are stuck with that hardness those fish should do fine. My water naturally comes out harder than that(closer to 350ppm) and I know the gouramis don't mind. I haven't kept sae but have seen them in stores here and they have the same water as me. Just do small water changes until the tank water equals the tapwater. The incrase in hardness may be normal. Water will often be harder toward the end of summer than in the spring from less rain. Our wellwater changes quite a bit throughout the seasons.

Hi,
It could very well be your city water supply. Give them
a call or check them out on the internet. They will tell
you what the values are for the water that they are
supplying. Frequently water treatment plants will
change their sources by either switching wells, or drawing
water from different places in a lake, river, or stream.
They may switch from a high siphon point to one that is
lower toward the bottom.

Frank


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