[TiminBoston]

Hi, I saw a posting (copied below) in these forums that listed extensive water values. How does one go about obtaining all of these measurements? So far, all I have is the API master test kit and a kh/gh test kit. Also on the other end of the spectrum, I got an active sponge filter from AngelsPlus.com and the person there told me that he has had tanks for 50 years and has never tested anything in his water. So one extreme to the other, I assume to find a balance in between those is best? Thanks in advance for any help.
Tim

Typical Finished Water Values
Parameter Median Value Range
Alkalinity 100 mg/L (as CaCO3) 90-110 ppm
Calcium 35 mg/L 27-37 mg/L
Chlorine* 1.05 mg/L 0.3-1.5 mg/L
Conductivity 300 uS/cm 280-350 uS/cm
Fluoride 0.65 mg/L 0.3-1.2 mg/L
Hardness 7.5 grains per gallon 7-9 grains per gallon
Hardness 127 mg/L (as CaCO3) 117-146 mg/L
Iron 0.03 mg/L 0.002-0.32 ppm
Nitrate, as N 0.3 mg/L 0.2-0.7 mg/L
pH 7.55 7.2-7.9
Potassium 1.2 mg/L 0.8-1.4 mg/L
Sodium 8.9 mg/L 6-17 mg/L
Temperature 58°F 32°-70°F
Total Dissolved Solids 177 mg/L 125-195 mg/L
Turbidity 0.5 NTU 0.1-1.5 NTU

 

[Yorg]

Hi TiminBoston:

Several of the values you listed would come from a professional water analysis, either from the utility that supplies your water or (if you have a well) from a company the specializes in wells for home use.

I test for ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, carbonate hardness, general hardness, and phosphate (I have really hard well water). A friend of mine says I'm overdoing it (he doesn't test for anything unless his fish start looking sick or dying) but I've caught some problems early on in the past, so I'll stick with it. With the API kits it doesn't take that long.

Hi, I saw a posting (copied below) in these forums that listed extensive water values. How does one go about obtaining all of these measurements? So far, all I have is the API master test kit and a kh/gh test kit. Also on the other end of the spectrum, I got an active sponge filter from AngelsPlus.com and the person there told me that he has had tanks for 50 years and has never tested anything in his water. So one extreme to the other, I assume to find a balance in between those is best? Thanks in advance for any help.
Tim

Typical Finished Water Values
Parameter Median Value Range
Alkalinity 100 mg/L (as CaCO3) 90-110 ppm
Calcium 35 mg/L 27-37 mg/L
Chlorine* 1.05 mg/L 0.3-1.5 mg/L
Conductivity 300 uS/cm 280-350 uS/cm
Fluoride 0.65 mg/L 0.3-1.2 mg/L
Hardness 7.5 grains per gallon 7-9 grains per gallon
Hardness 127 mg/L (as CaCO3) 117-146 mg/L
Iron 0.03 mg/L 0.002-0.32 ppm
Nitrate, as N 0.3 mg/L 0.2-0.7 mg/L
pH 7.55 7.2-7.9
Potassium 1.2 mg/L 0.8-1.4 mg/L
Sodium 8.9 mg/L 6-17 mg/L
Temperature 58°F 32°-70°F
Total Dissolved Solids 177 mg/L 125-195 mg/L
Turbidity 0.5 NTU 0.1-1.5 NTU