Last Updated on February 10, 2023 by Matt

Aquarium general hardness is an important part of water chemistry and plays an important role in the overall health of your fish tank.

It is also known as aquarium GH, or aquarium water hardness. Most likely you will see aquarium general hardness simply shortened to GH. In this article we will give a complete overview of aquarium GH; what exactly we mean by this, why it is important in the tank environment, how to test and maintain GH levels, and how to increase and lower GH in aquariums. 

IN THIS ARTICLE

What Is Aquarium General Hardness

What Is Aquarium General Hardness

Aquarium general hardness is a measure of the mineral concentration in your tank, specifically the magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) ion concentration in your aquarium water column

It is measured in degrees of General Hardness, or dGH for short. It can also be measured in parts per million (ppm). 1 dGH to equal to 17.9 ppm. Magnesium and calcium are found in all water sources, and so many fish will have evolved in environments with hard or soft water.

Hard water is water with a high concentration of magnesium and calcium ions, while soft water is water with a low concentration of ions.

Magnesium and calcium ions are found in tap water; you’ll have probably heard that you either live in a hard or soft water area.

If you live in a hard water area, as you conduct water changes you will be adding a large amount of ions into your aquarium, and so will find it hard to lower the GH in the aquarium. Conversely in soft water areas, you may find it difficult to increase GH as the tap water contains very little ion concentration. 

Why is Aquarium General Hardness Important?

General hardness is very important in the fish tank environment for a number of reasons. First is that both calcium and magnesium are vital to both fish and plants. 

Magnesium is vital to photosynthesis in plants; without magnesium, photosynthesis won’t be able to occur. It is also used in carbohydrate metabolism and cell membrane stabilization in plants. 

In fish, magnesium regulates muscle and nerve function and helps to produce muscle, bone, and DNA.

Calcium is an essential macronutrient in plants which is used as a structural component of cell walls and is also used as an intracellular messenger. 

In fish 99% of calcium is present in the scales, bones, and teeth. The other 1% is extra-skeletal and is found distributed throughout the organs and tissues. This extra-skeletal calcium is found as free ionized calcium ions, or within phosphate and bicarbonate compounds. It can be found attached to proteins as well. Free ionized calcium ions are critically important to muscle movements and in osmoregulation.

Osmoregulation is the internal balance of water, minerals, and salts regardless of what the external conditions are. This is the process which enables freshwater fish to have a higher internal concentration of minerals and salts than the surrounding water column, and saltwater fish to have a lower internal concentration of salt than the surrounding water. These adaptations are why saltwater fish cannot survive in freshwater and freshwater fish cannot survive in saltwater. 

Problems with osmoregulation will cause major health issues in your aquarium fish, and will likely result in fish death. 

As you can see, aquarium general hardness is vitally important for the health of your tank. Both fish and plants alike require calcium and magnesium for critical uses and processes, and will develop problems, issues, and illnesses if the dGH is too low. 

Conversely, an extremely high GH can cause issues as well. Some plants such as Chain Swords like soft water, and don’t do well in hard water. In fish a very high GH can cause osmotic shock, which can lead to death. 

What Is The Difference Between Aquarium GH and KH?

It can be pretty confusing; after all, both GH and KH are measures of water hardness. But they are measures of fundamentally different things. While GH is a measure of magnesium and calcium ion concentration, aquarium KH is a measure of carbonate (CO3) and bicarbonate (HCO3) ion concentration. 

These two measures of water hardness can go hand in hand. For instance calcium is often found in the compounds calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and calcium bicarbonate (Ca(HCO3)2), both of which are found in tap water, and calcium carbonate is what mollusk shells, echinoderm tests, and coral skeletons are made of. Magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) is also often found in tap water, so high GH water most likely also has a high KH, as the magnesium and calcium ions are found with the carbonate and bicarbonate ions.

This isn’t always the case though. Magnesium and calcium can also be found in the compounds magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) or calcium sulfate (CaSO4). Therefore the GH can be raised without raising KH as the magnesium and calcium ions aren’t found attached to carbonate and bicarbonate ions.

What Is the Ideal Aquarium General Hardness?

What Is the Ideal Aquarium General Hardness

The ideal aquarium general hardness depends on what fish tank setup you have and what plants and fish that you have.

As a rough generalization though the following table will tell you easily and clearly what  general hardness range you should be looking for.

Tropical Fish Tank4-12 dGH
Planted Tank3-8 dGH
African Cichlid Tank12-20 dGH
Shrimp Tank4-8 dGH
Ponds4-12 dGH

As you can see, for most freshwater tanks the dGH should be between 4 and 8. However it can vary greatly. Some plants prefer much softer water, and don’t do well in hard water. However all plants need calcium and magnesium to be healthy. African cichlids love hard water and need quite a high general hardness.

For saltwater tanks it is a little bit more technical, as you need to aim to get the ratio of calcium to magnesium in the tank the same as in the ocean. This is approximately 1:3. As general hardness is the measure of both of the ions, you need to measure both separately for saltwater and reefs tanks.

How do you Test for Aquarium General Hardness?

It is very important to test for aquarium general hardness often. It is impossible to tell whether you have high or low GH without testing your fish tank water. 

Luckily testing for general hardness is very easy. 

Tests like the API Freshwater Aquarium General Hardness Test Kit and the Sera General Hardness Test Kit make getting an accurate GH reading very simple. 

All you need to do is put the required amount of tank water into the test tube, and then add the testing solution.

It is important to realize that these kits test for both magnesium and calcium ions combined. Therefore these tests can give false positives. For instance if you have a very high calcium ion concentration but no magnesium at all, you will still be given a high GH reading, and vice versa.

If you suspect a magnesium or calcium deficiency in your freshwater tank then you can use one of the following calcium and magnesium tests. Once you know which is deficient you can work to raise that compound.

How to Raise GH in your Aquarium

How to Raise GH in your Aquarium

There are a number of things you can do to raise GH in aquariums. Have a read through the following points, and choose the best option for your tank setup. All of these techniques will raise the GH of the tank, but some may be better than others in your aquarium.

Water Change

The easiest way of reintroducing calcium and magnesium ions into the water is through water changes. Tap water contains these ions, and using a water conditioner won’t remove these essential ions from the water. 

If you live in a soft water area though, your tap water won’t contain much calcium or magnesium. So conducting a water change won’t introduce enough ions to raise the GH sufficiently. If you are using an RO/DI water system, then the GH of the water will be 0. 

Aquarium Remineralizer

If either of these is the case then luckily there are still a number of things that you can do. 

You can use aquarium remineralizers to reintroduce these important ions and raise general hardness in the aquarium. 

Seachem Replenish is a brilliant way of raising the GH of aquariums. It contains calcium and magnesium in the form of salts. It contains calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride and sodium chloride. This can be great as it will only raise general hardness; it contains no carbonate or bicarbonate ions so won’t affect KH. Be careful with planted tanks or salt-sensitive fish using this product though. 

If you have a planted tank or fish that are sensitive to slats, such as catfish, then you will be wanting to use a different product to raise general hardness in the aquarium. Using Seachem Equilibrium is a brilliant alternative. It contains essential trace elements in the form of sulfates. Seachem Equilibrium contains calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate, ferric (iron) sulfate, and manganese sulfate. 

Sale
Seachem Equilibrium 300gram
  • MINERALS: Equilibrium is specifically designed to establish the optimal mineral content for the planted aquarium. When this mixture is added to the aquarium it will impart a slight haze that should clear within 15–30 minutes.
  • EQUILIBRIUM: Does not contain sodium or chloride (which can be detrimental to a planted aquarium at elevated levels).
  • SUITED FOR: Equilibrium is preferably suited for use with RO (reverse osmosis) and DI (deionized) water or any mineral deficient water.
  • BALANCE: Equilibrium raises the essential mineral/electrolyte content (General Hardness) of the water to balance with and promote stability of the carbonate hardness.
  • DIRECTIONS: To raise mineral content/general hardness (GH) by 1 meq/L (3 dH), add 16 g (1 tablespoon) for every 80 L (20 US gallons) when setting up an aquarium or when making water changes (add to new water). It is normal for this product not to dissolve right away and it will not harm the tank. It will dissolve over the course of about 12 hours.

You should use these products each time that you undertake a water change and put them into the new water before you add it into the tank. You can use the amount you need to raise the GH to the level you require. If you aren’t sure then use a test kit to measure the dGH before adding the new water.

Crushed Coral

Another way you can raise the GH of your aquarium is by using crushed coral. Crushed coral is simply coral skeletons which have been crushed down. Coral skeletons are made from calcium carbonate, and will release this into the water column. Be wary though, as it contains carbonate, so will also raise KH, and so subsequently the pH as well. 

You can either use crushed coral as a substrate, or you can put it in a filter bag in the aquarium filter. It can also be effective just hidden in a mesh bag simply at the back of the aquarium. 

CaribSea Aquarium Crushed Coral
  • 100%aragonite supports proper ph
  • grain size reduces built up detritus
  • re-create natural reef environments
  • made in the USA

Aragonite

You can use aragonite the same way that you use crushed coral; you can use it as a substrate, in a mesh bag hidden in the tank, or in the filter. 

Aragonite is one of the most common naturally occurring forms of calcium carbonate. It is actually the form of calcium carbonate that mollusks and corals make their shells out of! 

The AquaNatural aragonite sand has been ethically harvested from the Bahamas under lease from the government. This is very important as some aragonite sands available have questionable sources.

Aragonite is great to use in fish tanks with fish which like hard water. African Cichlids for instance are the classic hard water loving fish. 

Wonder Shells

Wonder shells work by releasing calcium and magnesium into the water column. As they release the ions the shell will slowly dissolve. Not only will they release calcium and magnesium they will also absorb chlorine and chloramine, removing it from your tank. 

Wonder shells also look pretty great in aquariums, but be wary that they will keep releasing ions and raising GH. If you have a specific GH in mind then you should test the water regularly and ensure that you don’t overshoot.

Weco Wonder Shell Natural Minerals, Large
  • Made of natural materials
  • Removes chlorine instantly
  • Clears water
  • Country Of Origin: United States

How to Lower GH in your Aquarium

It could well be the case that the general hardness in your tank is too high. Fish and plants need calcium and magnesium, and will use what is in the water column, however if you live in a hard water area then this may not be enough to prevent these minerals building up. 

Normally the best way of lowering general hardness is to do a water change. However if you live in a very hard water area when you do a water change you will actually be adding more ions into the tank, increasing general hardness. 

There are a few things that you can do to lower general hardness. 

Peat

Sale
Fluval Aquatic Peat Granules for Freshwater Aquariums
  • Filter Compatibility: Compatible with Fluval filter models: 106, 206, 306, 406, FX5, FX6, 105, 205, 305, 405, 104, 204, 304, and 404.
  • Water Softening: Peat Granules are recommended for fish that prefer soft, acidic water (i.e. Amazonian cichlids, discus, angelfish). They soften aquarium water naturally and help achieve pH levels that are needed for breeding certain tropical species.
  • Ideal Environment: These granules contain humic acid, tanning agents and trace elements that are essential for various life processes. Each granule is highly concentrated for maximum effectiveness.
  • Usage: This filter media is suitable for freshwater. Ideal for use with most canister filters; for best results, replace every 4 weeks.
  • Pack Includes: 500g (17.6 oz.) of peat granules for your aquarium filter.

Using peat or sphagnum peat moss in the chemical filtration media tray of your aquarium filter will lower the GH of your aquarium water. Normally you will need to use a fine filter mesh to hold the peat, as you don’t want what is basically dirt to get out and start floating in your tank!

As the water flows through the peat the calcium and magnesium adheres to the peat, and thus are removed from the tank. When you replace the peat, the ions are gone forever. Care needs to be taken when using peat to lower general hardness though. Peat contains humic acid and tannins, which lower the pH. If you need to have a stable pH, or need a slightly alkaline tank, then do not use peat. 

Distilled Water

Distilled water is water which has been boiled, and the resulting steam has been condensed and collected. When you boil water, only pure water comes out in the steam, any chemicals such as phosphate and nitrate, particles, and metal ions like magnesium and calcium are left behind in the solution. 

Therefore distilled water has a general hardness of 0 dGH. As such, you shouldn’t add distilled water directly into your aquarium. You risk sending your fish into osmotic shock as before the distilled water mixes in, you will have suddenly lowered the general hardness. You should mix distilled water with your treated tap water during water changes if you have hard water. Or you can remineralize the water using a product like.

Sale
Seachem Equilibrium
  • MINERALS: Equilibrium is specifically designed to establish the optimal mineral content for the planted aquarium. When this mixture is added to the aquarium it will impart a slight haze that should clear within 15–30 minutes.
  • EQUILIBRIUM: Does not contain sodium or chloride (which can be detrimental to a planted aquarium at elevated levels).
  • SUITED FOR: Equilibrium is preferably suited for use with RO (reverse osmosis) and DI (deionized) water or any mineral deficient water.
  • BALANCE: Equilibrium raises the essential mineral/electrolyte content (General Hardness) of the water to balance with and promote stability of the carbonate hardness.
  • DIRECTIONS: To raise mineral content/general hardness (GH) by 1 meq/L (3 dH), add 16 g (1 tablespoon) for every 80 L (20 US gallons) when setting up an aquarium or when making water changes (add to new water). It is normal for this product not to dissolve right away and it will not harm the tank. It will dissolve over the course of about 12 hours.

Distilled water is very easy to get from any shop, not just pet stores. Most retailers should have distilled water, as it isn’t just good for aquariums; have a sip yourself!

RO/DI Water

RO/DI water stands for reverse osmosis/deionized water. This is a bit of a mouthful, and can seem like some strange chemistry thing that mere mortals won’t know how to use, but it is actually quite simple once you get your head around it. RO/DI systems basically remove everything except H2O from the water. 

Aquatic Life Four Stage Reverse Osmosis Deionization Unit
  • ZERO TDS WATER- Produce up to 50 gallons of zero TDS water every 24 hours at an affordable price with the RO Buddie plus DI model, The RO Membrane...
  • SEDIMENT REMOVAL - The five-micron sediment filter cartridge traps particulate matter like dirt, silt, and rust with will affect the taste and...
  • CARBON FILTRATION - The five-micron activated carbon reduces chlorine and conditions the water prior to the RO membrane
  • MEMBRANE FILTRATION - The RO membrane reduces impurities known as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from the water down to a ratio of 1 out of 10,000 of a...
  • DEIONIZATION - The color-changing deionization mixed-bed resin removes the remaining TDS from the membrane filtered water

The reverse osmosis part gets rid of large particles such as dirt and sand, but also rids the water of salts and other chemical compounds. The deionization part rids the water of ionized compounds like phosphate, nitrate, and also magnesium and calcium. They are very commonly used by reef tank owners, as corals are notoriously fickle and do NOT like tap water, even treated!

If you use this system to get nice pure water for your aquarium, the general hardness will be 0 dGH. There are a couple of ways you can use this, but like distilled water you shouldn’t add it directly to your aquarium as you may cause one area of your tank to suddenly drop in dGH, thereby giving your fish osmotic shock. You can remineralize RO/DI water by adding an aquarium remineralizer like

Sale
Seachem Equilibrium
  • MINERALS: Equilibrium is specifically designed to establish the optimal mineral content for the planted aquarium. When this mixture is added to the aquarium it will impart a slight haze that should clear within 15–30 minutes.
  • EQUILIBRIUM: Does not contain sodium or chloride (which can be detrimental to a planted aquarium at elevated levels).
  • SUITED FOR: Equilibrium is preferably suited for use with RO (reverse osmosis) and DI (deionized) water or any mineral deficient water.
  • BALANCE: Equilibrium raises the essential mineral/electrolyte content (General Hardness) of the water to balance with and promote stability of the carbonate hardness.
  • DIRECTIONS: To raise mineral content/general hardness (GH) by 1 meq/L (3 dH), add 16 g (1 tablespoon) for every 80 L (20 US gallons) when setting up an aquarium or when making water changes (add to new water). It is normal for this product not to dissolve right away and it will not harm the tank. It will dissolve over the course of about 12 hours.
to raise the GH to the level you need. You can also mix this water with your treated tap water if you have hard water, thereby lowering the GH of the tap water you are putting into your tank.

Indian Almond Leaves

Large Indian Almond Leaves
  • Indian Almond Leaves / Catappa 4-6 in 10 Pk
  • Catappa Leaves Adds Tannins or Black Water type environment that Promotes Health Vitality Color and Breeding.
  • Natural Biofilm producer for a Valuable food source for Shrimp, while creating a hiding place for baby shrimp, fish and crabs.
  • Organic, Natural, Sustainable and Ecologically Harvested Natural Resource Great For your Betta or Shrimp and all soft water loving Fish.

Indian almond leaves can be used to lower the aquarium general hardness. Similarly to peat, indian almond leaves contain tannins and tannic acid. This will lower the pH and carbonate hardness as well as the general hardness. While you may not see a great effect if your GH is very high, you will still see an effect. 

You should check water chemistry regularly when using indian almond leaves as the effect they have won’t stop; they will keep leaching their compounds into the water column. Once you are at the GH you require you should be wary about leaving them in, or at least don’t have as many if you have used a lot.

Conclusion

Hopefully this guide on aquarium general hardness has been interesting and useful. GH is an important part of water chemistry, but can easily be forgotten about in amongst seemingly more important aspects. But for healthy fish and plants you need to have the appropriate general hardness!

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Jakob

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