How hard is your local water?

[FINWIN]

In Washington DC, per the 2020 annual water report:

ppm 81 to 176 (126 average)

grains/gal 5 to 10 (7 average)

Higher values in spring/summer due to runoff

So I guess this is moderately hard? Not a chemistry expert.

Decided to look into this as my Chocolate Bobo has recently had a bout of (ich? lympho spots/ stress?) and wondered if water chemistry could be part of the issue. He grows well enough (now big enough to touch the sides of a 5 gal bucket). In 13 months he's doubled in body size.

 

[mnloki]

Off the charts here. I moved in two years ago, but if I recall, the test kit went to 1000ppm and I was as dark as it got. Thankfully, my cichlids dig it and the high ph.

 

[Rocksor]

GH 22 degrees is what kept a choco at for 1 year with no health issues. Had major aggression issues in the tank so was rehomed.

 

[Bluesandtwo]

Very hard water here in London. A nightmare for open top tanks as I'm always battling limescale marks from evaporation. I'm trialing a 50% tap 50% bottled spring water idea at the moment to see if it helps in a 20 gallon.