Aquarium pH, GH, and KH for BEGINNERS​

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  • Опубліковано 20 лип 2024
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    ‎ Find out what pH, GH, and KH mean, when you should test for them, and how to change their levels.
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    📖 RESOURCES
    ------------------------------------------------
    The Fish Keeper’s Guide to pH, GH, and KH - www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aq...
    Nutrient Deficiencies: Why Your Aquarium Plants Are Dying - www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aq...
    🛒 MATERIALS
    ------------------------------------------------
    pH test kit: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
    GH and KH test kit: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
    Crushed coral for extra minerals: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
    Wonder Shell mineral supplement: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
    Seachem Equilibrium mineral supplement: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
    WHO WE ARE
    ------------------------------------------------
    At Aquarium Co-Op, we focus on your aquariums. We specialize in freshwater tropical fish, aquatic plants, and the overall betterment of the freshwater fish keeping hobby. Our goal is to help you with your first pet fish and graduate you to an advanced aquarium hobbyist. If you'd like to take it to the next level, subscribe to Aquarium Co-Op and check out our weekly videos.
    Cory McElroy is employed by Aquarium Co-Op LLC. He also owns Aquarium Co-Op LLC. Therefore, all content is sponsored by Aquarium Co-Op.
    0:00 Why aquarium water chemistry matters
    0:59 Overview of pH
    3:40 Overview of KH
    6:12 Overview of GH
    8:50 How to raise or lower pH, KH, and GH
    #Aquariumcoop #Aquariumfish #Fishtank
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 538

  • @AquariumCoop
    @AquariumCoop  4 роки тому +49

    *Want to know why we didn't mention TDS meters in this video? Watch this video from Cory: **ua-cam.com/video/mXGnf1gr5Pg/v-deo.html*

  • @nochillkowa9493
    @nochillkowa9493 3 роки тому +302

    Why can’t all the videos I’m watching be like this? Nuggets of information that actually matter, structured, and no unnecessary ads. Thanks aquarium coop

    • @bones1026
      @bones1026 2 роки тому +9

      you should watch her channel, every video is like this! its girl talks fish

    • @angelpineda7646
      @angelpineda7646 Рік тому +2

      Alot of experience fish ppl or how ever theyre called try to give you lectures about everything. Not everyone was born knowing everything about aquariums appreciate videos like this one

    • @Nightxday0
      @Nightxday0 Рік тому

      @@angelpineda7646 its ppm not ppl

    • @nihilisticrogue1048
      @nihilisticrogue1048 Рік тому +1

      ​@@bones1026 Agreed! I've been in the hobby for years and still watch her (and the other aquarium co-op) videos a lot. So much information that is beyond helpful.

    • @k-shop210
      @k-shop210 Рік тому

      They have mastered fish, the UA-cam algorithm, and most importantly building relationships! They think of their audience, and the rest flows.

  • @MidnightGeekSS
    @MidnightGeekSS 4 роки тому +171

    I love these videos Irene, you always put information in a very simple way. thanks!

    • @GirlTalksFish
      @GirlTalksFish 4 роки тому +10

      My pleasure! Thanks for watching. :)

    • @Slayyyter_bitxh
      @Slayyyter_bitxh 3 роки тому +2

      @@GirlTalksFish so adding crushed coral raises kh?

    • @skabizzibel8666
      @skabizzibel8666 3 роки тому

      Am I the only one that had no clue what to do

  • @Funny-rw1mc
    @Funny-rw1mc 2 роки тому +23

    I cannot thank you guys enough for this beginners guide videos you bring to us, these videos have helped me towards successfully keeping my first aquarium without having any fish dying because I got correct water parameters from following these vids.

  • @heyitsnovabound
    @heyitsnovabound 4 роки тому +13

    I finally understand kh and gh. So many unexplained shrimp deaths are now explained. I was told at the lfs i had "hard water" when i told them I'm on well water, but i was confused because i had to buy water softener. It also explains why the gH kit didnt go from orange to green, and was just a very very light green after 1 drop...and why veteran plants look poopy after being in my tank for so long. Thannnnnnk youuuuuuuuu

    • @GirlTalksFish
      @GirlTalksFish 4 роки тому +1

      So glad you found it helpful!

    • @nikkihays2971
      @nikkihays2971 3 роки тому

      I have the same results when I test with the kit too. Water changing tint after one drop. My snails are really struggling with their shell development. What did you do to raise the levels?

    • @heyitsnovabound
      @heyitsnovabound 3 роки тому +1

      @@nikkihays2971 i started buying wonder shells on the regular as i read they raise hardness. Crushed coral also dissolves slowly and increases water hardness

    • @kidwolf0015
      @kidwolf0015 3 роки тому

      Oof... Home wellwater softeners can sometimes replace some calcium with sodium. I deal with that somewhat, so I probably should get a calcium test... just to get an idea of how much calcium is still actually calcium.

  • @nathanaelsmith3553
    @nathanaelsmith3553 4 роки тому +25

    One mistake I've made withe the Master API Test kit is neglecting to rinse the test tube and cap thoroughly enough between tests. The pH tests seem particularly sensitive to the other chemicals in the same kit, so if you don't rinse thoroughly before using it you'll get bizarre results. The cap has a kind of groove in it so I now always make sure to rinse that recess out thoroughly.

    • @GirlTalksFish
      @GirlTalksFish 4 роки тому +2

      Very true! Thanks for the tip.

    • @himlolo
      @himlolo Рік тому

      Drop tests are usually innacurate anyways

  • @n_e_y_o
    @n_e_y_o 2 роки тому +4

    You're the only one that actually showed how to use the tests. Thanks a lot, my GH is 1! I was confused cause the test instantly turned green.

  • @TheOrdinaryGamertag
    @TheOrdinaryGamertag 4 роки тому +22

    Love that Irene is getting more involved over here! Great video!

  • @baikia777
    @baikia777 4 роки тому +25

    Whuaaat?? A Gamer's Wife with the co-op now?? I thought youtube was glitching when i saw her in the co-op thumbnail. I haven't watched fish keeping channels for a few months now so this is really surprising.

    • @GirlTalksFish
      @GirlTalksFish 4 роки тому +13

      Hehe, I started working for Aquarium Co-Op last year, but just recently started making videos for this channel. Enjoy!

  • @seanbenstead7650
    @seanbenstead7650 5 місяців тому +1

    We are new to keeping an aquarium and have found this tutorial fantastic , why can't everyone explain things in such an easy way so new comers understand absolutely brilliant video many thanks

  • @chillausmc
    @chillausmc 4 роки тому +19

    Bravo! Where have you been this whole time? Darn UA-cam finally suggests this video... Thank you for content, it will save many lives.

  • @PaulGreeve
    @PaulGreeve 4 роки тому +47

    Irene, thanks. Learning about all this can be daunting for beginners like me. It's too easy to misinterpret the readings and panic. I was intrigued to see you get the same colours for pH tests that I've been getting. I was worried it was to high. It's great to hear your advice and know I can be much more comfortable that my fish should be fine (which they are).

    • @GirlTalksFish
      @GirlTalksFish 4 роки тому +1

      My pleasure! Yeah, at first I was so confused about having high pH with soft water, but I've learned to cope with it. :)

  • @DroneOn
    @DroneOn 4 роки тому +3

    The transitions, overlays and clear audio make your videos very watchable.
    Thank you for linking your article.

  • @fragile880
    @fragile880 4 роки тому +14

    I've needed this a long time and I keep everything from shrimp and guppies to a reef tank. And still didn't know some of this. Thanks aquarium co-op helping all parts of the hobby!

  • @_lucid_one
    @_lucid_one 4 роки тому +15

    KH and GH has been my last topic to tackle for my water, thanks for explaining this!

  • @marypaigeflynn4512
    @marypaigeflynn4512 3 роки тому +1

    Best explanation and tutorial around! Right now I don't keep anything too difficult... kind of like you explained in the beginning, but I have gotten into planted tanks! So far so good with everything...but, as I grow in my hobby these are the kind of things I'm learning so I can do a little more specialty fish keeping eventually! Always thanks Irene for the time you take making your videos. I hope you have a wonderful day! 🙏🤗🌿🐟🌿

  • @chipdesormeaux7009
    @chipdesormeaux7009 3 роки тому

    I really enjoyed this. I got the info I was looking for, and you have a great presence on the camera and your voice is well modulated. Thank you!!

  • @ashurgeorge4604
    @ashurgeorge4604 4 роки тому +13

    This video helped me, I'm going through the whole gh kh ph debacle right now with my planted aquarium.
    This deserves a follow up video of how to dose acid and alkaline buffers to get the PH GH KH you need for your planted aquarium~!

  • @XusernamegoeshereX
    @XusernamegoeshereX 3 роки тому +1

    Thank you! This stuff has been driving me crazy trying to figure out. You explained it so well

  • @FG-hw5ep
    @FG-hw5ep 3 роки тому

    Irene, you do an amazing job at explaining these details in a way that is very easy for newcomers to understand. Thanks!

  • @claudiafotiou7546
    @claudiafotiou7546 4 роки тому +2

    Irene is so incredibly informative, truly. This was an excellent video, would love to see more like this! : )

  • @johnsolis3613
    @johnsolis3613 4 роки тому +5

    Irene, you're killing it with these videos. Keep up the great work.

    • @GirlTalksFish
      @GirlTalksFish 4 роки тому

      Awww, thank you so much for the encouragement!

  • @kerrypitt9789
    @kerrypitt9789 2 роки тому

    This is one of your best instructional videos on a confusing subject. Your work is often involved, this one is well done and I appreciate your work, especially here!

  • @inman8583
    @inman8583 4 роки тому +6

    Thank you Irene for explaining these tests. This video has really helped me understand what pH, GH and KH are and how I can monitor levels. I am new to keeping Aquarium fish and this video and your other videos have helped me become more aware of doing the right things for my fish. Thanks again!

  • @FrederickDunn
    @FrederickDunn 2 роки тому +8

    Hands down, this is my favorite aquarium and aqua-culture channel. Thank you for the excellent and helpful tips that are expertly presented. Well done in every respect.

  • @nicholasdiezmckenna9972
    @nicholasdiezmckenna9972 4 роки тому

    Another essential video. Love your videos, great to see you on Aquarium Co-Op too!

  • @Telkana806
    @Telkana806 4 роки тому +3

    Great video! Always heard to measure these, but never really understood what they should be and what to do with the rest results.

  • @lorinabroda3317
    @lorinabroda3317 4 роки тому +1

    Thank you for a wonderfully informative video while keeping it easy to understand. This has been a topic I have been struggling with, but not anymore. Thank you.

  • @kathydoro1527
    @kathydoro1527 4 роки тому

    That was awesome. Thank you. Loved how you wrote it down for us and showed us some charts.

  • @michelletoni3067
    @michelletoni3067 2 роки тому +1

    Great videos every time, I come here, I am never disappointed, thank you 🙏

  • @jasonkaminski6230
    @jasonkaminski6230 2 роки тому

    Best video I’ve found talking about this topic! - especially the conversion to ppm (which is how my test strips measure) Thanks!!

  • @TaciGrant
    @TaciGrant 2 роки тому

    I enjoy a lot of Irene’s videos, but this is by far the best one!!!!!!!! 🙏 Thank you very much, sweetie!

  • @gracefulpassages
    @gracefulpassages 2 роки тому +2

    Love 💘 the simple and plain language to understand all the water parameters..so glad I 😊 watched 👀 this video, because I'm a beginner and love my underwater world of plants 🪴 and fish 🐟 ❤ 😀 Thank you!!!

  • @soupbonep
    @soupbonep 2 місяці тому

    Once again Irene kills it with a great video with helpful information! Thanks Irene! I just moved across my state and have different water parameters and needed to refresh my knowledge on these three.

  • @crazyplantlady2587
    @crazyplantlady2587 3 роки тому

    I absolutely love your videos, you are straight to the point and have helped me alot! Thank you! 😄

  • @oliviafrazier4186
    @oliviafrazier4186 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you so much for this video! I’m getting Betta and I’ve been doing so much research and all the videos and articles I’ve read mention these but never explain. This helped so much, thank you

  • @TBizzell68
    @TBizzell68 3 роки тому +1

    Thanks! This video eases my mind, when I first started my aquarium the ph was 8 maybe a shade higher. I kept adding ph lowering solution and didn’t get much of a change at all, the next morning it would nearly the same. Then I did a kh and gh test and found my water to be 140 gh and 240 kh. I’m in the process of doing 20% changes every other day with RO water. I’m on a well and I just want to lower it slightly. Mine is a 40 gallon community tank with tetra and some corydora.

  • @AncientAviator
    @AncientAviator 3 роки тому +1

    Great video Irene! I learned a LOT. Again. Greatly appreciated!

  • @benagain8036
    @benagain8036 3 роки тому

    You made that so straightforward and easy to understand! Thank you.

  • @CantonmentBoy
    @CantonmentBoy 4 роки тому +5

    I love you 😍, oh and your videos too! Seriously good info, easily explained. 😬

  • @linkinruss
    @linkinruss 3 роки тому

    This is such a good video. Simple and straight to the point. Has helped a lot!

  • @ArchangelHornet
    @ArchangelHornet Рік тому +1

    this is all i need. so informative, thank you!!!!

  • @galaxynovaa
    @galaxynovaa 2 роки тому

    Thank you so much. I had just placed my wonder shell in my aquarium I purchased from aquarium co-op and watched this video and knew I was on the right track! My snails, shrimp, fish, and plants thank you

  • @oliverwain1158
    @oliverwain1158 8 місяців тому

    I absolutely love your idea of cutting the strips in half! Will be using this thank uou

  • @RPBaseball_14
    @RPBaseball_14 3 роки тому +4

    I literally have the same problem in my 29 gallon and every plant I put in there even my water wisteria would die. After testing recently I found that my ph was very very high and my hardness was at 0 ppm, even though I occasionally fertilize the tank. Thanks for literally making my life easier lol

  • @lewishowel1902
    @lewishowel1902 3 роки тому +1

    That was really helpful! I'm gonna be testing and getting my water right for the fishes and plants 😀

  • @gabrieldemiguel9380
    @gabrieldemiguel9380 4 роки тому

    Oh My God! I have been looking for how to use API's GH & KH kit for weeks. This video has never shown up in any search. I just now found it by accident 😄. Thank you so much!

  • @highstar9260
    @highstar9260 3 роки тому

    This is the most helpful video in this subject I have found THANK YOU!

  • @rubalu6014
    @rubalu6014 3 роки тому

    I love the idea about cutting them in half wow, and im glad you mention you use both kits as I do have both since figured to have a backup to verify results and for the hardness would help.

  • @teaforthree1
    @teaforthree1 3 роки тому +3

    Irene is a great presenter and I love the way she gets on with it.

  • @pabloabarca30
    @pabloabarca30 3 роки тому

    Love this video. I just received my GH and KH api kit test today!

  • @FrederickDunn
    @FrederickDunn 2 роки тому +6

    At 03:27 I have those also and it's extremely frustrating that those fold-outs stick together and then tear off the Alkalinity and pH lower image, making them no longer useful. I wish they simply included a separate card for this purpose. If there is a separate card, I would definitely purchase that.

  • @nitelife0420
    @nitelife0420 Рік тому

    Wow! That was so informative and to the point! Thank you so much for this video, it was truly helpful in understanding those perimeters.

  • @aquariumanalytic754
    @aquariumanalytic754 4 роки тому

    Thanks you Irene and the team at aquarium co-op just what I need about to start a blue dream shrimp tank.

  • @aquagolly9497
    @aquagolly9497 4 роки тому

    Bless you for making these beginner videos. Very helpful to send to my friends!!

  • @kellygast
    @kellygast Рік тому

    Irene, you are an outstanding teacher. Every time. Just wanted to give you a shout-out.

  • @prabinghimire3234
    @prabinghimire3234 2 роки тому

    I had to pause the video while i was half way through because i couldn't continue without subscribing and hitting the like. Amazing work,perfect instructional video,LOVED IT

  • @JuanDiegoPinillos
    @JuanDiegoPinillos Рік тому

    Thank you for all the info, it really really helps a lot when trying to understand all of this

  • @brfinger
    @brfinger 4 роки тому

    Keep up the great work! Your stuff is always awesome.

  • @sadoxell5462
    @sadoxell5462 Рік тому

    I live this channel so much. Thank you for all the information and being the best type of teachers! Love you

  • @lyndaspangler9654
    @lyndaspangler9654 Рік тому +2

    You are such an excellent teacher of information. Thank you! Your common sense, your direct info, your real world experiences...U.U.U. are simply appreciated for your excellence. ✌🏼🙏🏼🖖🏼🌞🐠

  • @Foxxyginger
    @Foxxyginger 5 місяців тому +1

    I really appreciate your videos. I could cry in frustration.

  • @TurboT1292
    @TurboT1292 3 роки тому

    Always enjoy you videos, so helpful and to the point!

  • @thyallseeingeye
    @thyallseeingeye 2 роки тому

    Irene’s my favorite & I’m hella stoked very time you make a video, gorgeous 🤗 thank you so so much x

  • @ModestMang
    @ModestMang 4 роки тому +1

    Very well edited!
    Very informational!
    Very Nice!

  • @lisaishii6829
    @lisaishii6829 4 роки тому +1

    Thank you for your help and easy to understand H2O property explanations.

  • @youssouf.a
    @youssouf.a 3 роки тому +5

    6:33 Like how some of these fish are chilling upside down.

  • @williamwood4779
    @williamwood4779 3 роки тому

    Thanks, great info and delivery!

  • @noelbrucker135
    @noelbrucker135 3 роки тому

    Watched this a few weeks ago, but I wanted to pop back and let you know how helpful this was to me. After years of keeping fish but unsuccessful live bearer keeping despite crushed coral (& 4 months of unsuccessful guppy breeding - what?), this video finally convinced me to attack my GH/KH with the appropriate test kit and Equilibrium. Turns out my tap GH is

  • @gbC4mpos
    @gbC4mpos 4 роки тому +1

    Wow, Irene, you’re great! Thanks!

  • @theresadowns891
    @theresadowns891 4 роки тому +1

    I love your videos!! Thank you very much you explain things so I understand it and give me Solutions that I can do

  • @bern585
    @bern585 4 роки тому +2

    thank you soo much for this awesome video, think I'm going to get some of the tetra test strips. the way you explain is so helpful and satisfying, thanks

  • @dylankate6424
    @dylankate6424 2 роки тому

    Terrific video! I have the kit, never used it. I’m a newbie. Very helpful 👍

  • @cristobalhernanadezalvarez6210
    @cristobalhernanadezalvarez6210 4 роки тому

    Love the video and love the way you explain the things!!

  • @jfnovella
    @jfnovella 2 роки тому

    That was such a helpful video: organized, informative, clear, well presented, and interesting. I live in San Francisco, and our water comes from Hetchy Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite NP. As a recently learned through my fish keeping here, our water is very soft, and has an extremely low KH. My plants seem to be thriving here, but I am concerned about the PH crash that you mentioned. The two snails that I purchased after my fish tank completed it's cycling both died after two weeks. I also lost one molly. My other molly has been thriving for over a month, and all of my other fish seem to be healthy too. I recently added rainbow fish, and the store owner told me that I might want to add some SEAchem chemicals to avoid a ph crash. He told me that rainbows do better in higher ph water. I did some research and found your video, so today I ordered some crushed coral from Aquarium Co op that I will be adding to my filter. I hope that this raises my kh a bit, but I don't want to change things too much, since all of my plants and other fish seem to be doing very well. Suggestions?

  • @Cbtrainnut
    @Cbtrainnut Рік тому

    Excellent video Irene! Thank you so much!

  • @C.M.M.23
    @C.M.M.23 3 роки тому

    Great video. Thank you so much. I'm looking to bump my gh a slight degree and don't want to use crushed coral, like you said. I'll probably go the route of manipulating my filter mediums.
    Aquariums are a top-tier hobby for sure. 👍

  • @OneLegFlamingo1
    @OneLegFlamingo1 3 роки тому

    This is so much easier to understand than other people's videos on the topic.

  • @rangrage
    @rangrage 3 роки тому

    As a beginner this has been the most informative video. Thanks for the demonstrations as well.

  • @comment.highlighted
    @comment.highlighted 4 роки тому +2

    Thank you. That was very helpful 🙂

  • @JenniferKoochofPhotography
    @JenniferKoochofPhotography 2 роки тому

    Another great video Irene ❤️🐠🐟

  • @patrickspringfeldt7207
    @patrickspringfeldt7207 Місяць тому

    I just wanted to come back to this video and say thanks i re-watch it a lot. I also have been calling shrimp shimp for a long while now.

  • @kenk8215
    @kenk8215 3 роки тому

    So much great info. Thanks for making this video!

  • @ThinkerTinker74
    @ThinkerTinker74 2 роки тому

    Found out late last year I've been living with ADHD all my life. I appreciate shorter videos like this one. I may have mentioned it a while ago. I understand Gh and Kh much better. This is the third time I watch this video 📹 . THX

  • @jg7589
    @jg7589 3 роки тому

    You've given me sooo much information!!! Thanks so very much

  • @mr.kevinmario1148
    @mr.kevinmario1148 2 роки тому

    Helpful infographics and video. Thanks!

  • @RAZOR12334
    @RAZOR12334 4 роки тому +1

    Thanks for the detailed info.

  • @noelbrucker135
    @noelbrucker135 4 роки тому +2

    My tip for the test strips (other than the one about cutting in half :) My colors/printing on the label was always wearing off or getting wet. I open up the label to the chart you want, then seal/cover it open with clear packaging tape. Keeps me from fumbling with it with one hand and keeps it from wearing off. Great video as always, Irene, from a fellow Coloradan :)

  • @rae_ray8944
    @rae_ray8944 3 роки тому

    This is a great vid. One aquarium group online told me to not worry about my super low gh/kh water, there's nothing I can really do about it. Not true at all, Thanks Co-Op

  • @gorillariot123
    @gorillariot123 3 роки тому

    3:10 absolutely genius! I'm going to do this with my test strips!

  • @debpahlau3062
    @debpahlau3062 29 днів тому

    Your videos are always so well done in presenting info we need.

  • @sekharly
    @sekharly 4 роки тому

    Really great video Irene!

  • @bkgame5487
    @bkgame5487 11 місяців тому

    Thank you so much as I am researching about how to raise some Blue dream shrimp and the explanation of ph gh and kh levels are really helpful thank you !

  • @dudoklasovity2093
    @dudoklasovity2093 Рік тому

    Awesome video on this often omitted topic, thank you!👍👍👍

  • @allysonshrewsberry5603
    @allysonshrewsberry5603 Рік тому +4

    My girl is out here doing the lord's work 🙌

  • @mirkavillavicencio7273
    @mirkavillavicencio7273 3 роки тому

    Hi Irene, I’m loving your videos! So helpful since I just started to look into the scientific part of water. I have 1 male Betta and wanted to ask you please what’s the right range of KH, GH, and PH? Thank you!!!

  • @MridulSinghMusic
    @MridulSinghMusic 4 роки тому +5

    I have a tip for you, Irene (and anyone else who can find this useful). If you feel like it is a hassle to repeatedly cap the small test tube to test KH and GH, you can use the measuring glass sold at Aquarium coop (or the ones you get with medicines [just make sure it's clean]), fill it up with 5 mL tank water, and spin around the glass each time you add a drop. I find that much easier than adding the one drop, capping the tube, inverting, and repeating the process.

    • @GirlTalksFish
      @GirlTalksFish 4 роки тому +1

      Great tip! I'm so going to try this.

  • @incubus_the_man
    @incubus_the_man 2 роки тому

    My plants have been looking sickly for weeks, I knew my GH and KH have been low the whole time but I didn't know that could cause plants to die. I was going to get a fertilizer so I'm glad I watched this video. Adding crushed coral to my filter medium asap

  • @sandramartin2713
    @sandramartin2713 4 роки тому

    I really needed this video. Thank you!

  • @chrisinky3
    @chrisinky3 4 роки тому

    As always, great video!