Water hardness...grains?

Aqualoon · Mar 12, 2013

Was browsing my city's webpage as spring is coming and it lists places to dump leaves and etc. Anyways I found a new section about the water and it states the following...

The City water hardness level is 21-24 grains.

I am not familiar with the term grains at all and how it relates to water hardness and if they are referring to kh or gh? Probably GH I would imagine?

deeda · Mar 12, 2013

1 grain per gallon = 17.1 part per million so 21 grains per gallon = 359.88 parts per million

They are probably referring to the combined GH and KH which is usual when discussing tap water.

Do you have a test kit for GH & KH? I'd be curious what your tests show.

duanes · Mar 12, 2013

The grain scale is much like the pH scale, 7 grains is considered neutral, neither hard nor soft as numbers go up, the harder he water is, and visa versa.

Aqualoon · Mar 13, 2013

I honestly haven't tested for GH or KH for years - back probably when I first got into the hobby and was extremely concerned about lowering the pH of my water.