My New Calico Orandas (what Is Gh) Options

[kingyoo]

Too low a pH the orange fades; too high pH the black fades. It's a catch 22 situation

Add magnesium sulfate (epsom salts) to your water. It boosts the GH which will keep the red color intense. Of course green water helps color too. Right?

[HappyBuddha]

 
Add magnesium sulfate (epsom salts) to your water. It boosts the GH which will keep the red color intense.  Of course green water helps color too.  Right?

I don't know what exactly GH is but would adding baking soda, which boost the KH, work equally well?

I also don't know what epsom salt is... but I read "salt" and it is my understanding that parasites will adapt to the salinity and becomes immune. Hence, I only apply salt when the fish needs medical treatment.

This, would using baking soda has the same effect as using Epsom Salt?

[kingyoo]

I also don't know what epsom salt is... but I read "salt" and it is my understanding that parasites will adapt to the salinity and becomes immune. Hence, I only apply salt when the fish needs medical treatment.

Epsom salt is NOT a salt, we just call it that. It is magnesium sulfate hydrate. It looks like salt in crystalized form. No worries.

I don't know what exactly GH is but would adding baking soda, which boost the KH, work equally well?

Long answer....

Water accumulates many dissolved substances before it reaches our home taps. Hardness is a measurement of the concentration of metal ions. Some are calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. In most water it consist mainly of calcium and magnesium salts, with trace amounts of other metals.
There are two kinds of hardness that we consider with fish keeping. Permanent hardness and alkalinity (kH) So, kh plus Permanent hardness equals general hardness (gH).

Alkalinity or temporary (carbonate) hardness (kH) refers to the hardness derived mainly from carbonate and bicarbonate ions and directly reflects the buffering capacity of the water. So adding Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) raises kh, thus buffers your water.

PLUS
Permanent hardness measures ions such as nitrates, sulphates, and chlorides etc,

Equals
General hardness (gH) refers to the dissolved concentration primarily of magnesium and calcium ions.


A lot of fish keepers skip the gH testing as it doesn't seem as important. However, I feel that for my fish I want to give them the best care. My tap water is almost zero kH and zero gH. Their colors are more brilliant with addition of epsom salt since they are indoors without much sunlight and no green water.

I hope that helps.

[HappyBuddha]

Epsom salt is NOT a salt, we just call it that.  It is magnesium sulfate hydrate.  It looks like salt in crystalized form.  No worries.

Long answer....

Thank you my dear.

I just spend some time reading up on Epsom Salt at the Epsom Salt Industry Council and found many interesting facts about it. I'm going to get some today at the drug store, not only for my goldfish but my own use too.

I have to get a GH test kit as well.

There are two kinds of hardness that we consider with fish keeping. Permanent hardness and alkalinity (kH) So, kh plus Permanent hardness equals general hardness (gH).

I usually dose enough Baking Soda to raise the kH from 0dKH to 4dKH (clear water) or 8dkH (green water).

Since GH = kH + permanent hardness, what is the ideal GH?

In this scenario, let's use Epsom Salt for permanent hardness.

Suppose the "ideal" GH is 10.

A 10 degrees GH can be archive in the following combination:-
8kH + X amount of Epsom Salt
4kH + Y amount of Epsom Salt
1kH + Z amount of Epsom Salt
Which combination is the correct one, or did I misunderstood your explanation on GH?



Sorry sorry sorry.

The above scenario is completely wrong. Please ignore.

Total Hardness = GH + KH

http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/water/hardness.htm

[kingyoo]

Since GH = kH + permanent hardness, what is the ideal GH?

I believe most koi hobbiest keep their gH at about 160ppm. I use that a guide for my goldfish. Seems fine to me. (you will need to convert from German measure dK to ppm) I will look for a conversion chart too.

Dose? It depends on what your current gH reads. 1/4 cup of epsom salt per 100 gallons of water should raise your gH between 25- 50 ppm.

I have never heard of overdose of epsom salt, but I am sure it is possible.

[CyberET]

doesn't epsom salt works as a laxative as well?

[kingyoo]

Yes, epsom salt can be used as laxative for humans. The amount the humans use to facilitate laxative use is alot higher concentration than what is added to the water for fish. Goldfish don't drink the water or very minute amounts when chewing/swallowing, so any laxative effect is not very possible.

I have heard of some people placing epsom salts in the food to help a constipated goldfish. I have never tried it.

[CyberET]

i see.. hmMmm.. something new to play with

[HappyBuddha]

Okay, I've gotten a box of Epsom Salt from Guardian Pharmacy. Somehow I had the impression that it's dirty cheap so I was a little surprised it costs $3.20 (for 375g).



I haven't gotten a GH test kit yet so I can't play with my Epsom Salt in my tank yet.

Kingyoo darling, I've found a ppm to degrees (german, american, french and english!) convertor.

http://www.littlefishtank.com/utils/calcul...p?tool=hardness

1 German degree = 17.9 ppm (as CaCO3)
1 American degree = 17.1 ppm
1 English degree = 14.3 ppm
1 French degree = 10.0 ppm

I've always use German water hardness degree (dKH) when I talked about "degrees" and is a little surprised to find out there's more than one type of degrees!

I thot I had it tough when the american gallon is different from imperial gallons....

Why can't we all live in a metric world?

Because this is the Matrix.

[kingyoo]

Kingyoo darling, I've found a ppm to degrees (german, american, french and english!) convertor.

happybuddah sweetie, Thanks for finding the conversion, I forgot.

I love the packaging on the epsom salts. Very fancy compare to the brand here in US.

[Hamad]

So does that mean that with every water change I gotta check my GH, KH, PH, Ammonia? I'm planning on having a daily water change so this will be really exhausting.

[HappyBuddha]

So does that mean that with every water change I gotta check my GH, KH, PH, Ammonia? I'm planning on having a daily water change so this will be really exhausting.

Indeed that's taxing, and expensive too!

I only carry out daily test for a new setup. Once I collected enough data (for instance, how many spoonful of Baking Soda to achieve a certain pH level), I would stop. After that, I will test again only when there's significant change to the setup such as adding new fishes or upgrading the filteration system.

[HappyBuddha]

Back to fascinating orandas:-

Black Oranda


White Cap Oranda


Blue Oranda


Brown Oranda


Red Head Chocolate Oranda

[HappyBuddha]

Blue Oranda


Sakura Oranda


White Oranda


Calico Oranda


Red Black ("Tie Bao Jing") Oranda


All pics from chinagoldfish.net

[smgutie]

Kingyoo darling, I've found a ppm to degrees (german, american, french and english!) convertor

happybuddah sweetie, Thanks for finding the conversion, I forgot.

LOL, when did this happen?

so is it official?