Testing your aquarium’s water parameters regularly is an important part of keeping and maintaining a healthy environment for your fish and invertebrates. The Fritz General Hardness (GH) Test kit is a liquid-reagent-based test that accurately measures GH in freshwater aquariums. The kit contains the required reagents, a test tube, and an instruction card with a test colour chart.
General hardness (GH) measures the concentration of dissolved minerals (calcium and magnesium) in the water. Often overlooked, GH plays a critical role in aquarium health. These minerals support key physiological functions in fish, invertebrates, and plants, including skeletal development, osmoregulation, and enzyme activity. Testing and maintaining appropriate GH is important for the long-term health of your aquarium’s inhabitants. Calcium and magnesium deficiencies can cause poor growth in fish, molting difficulties in freshwater shrimp, and stunted growth and development in plants — leaving imbalances unaddressed can ultimately lead to stress and disease.
Key Features:
- Accurately measures General Hardness (GH) levels in freshwater aquariums.
- Liquid-reagent-based test for reliable and precise results.
- Essential for new tank setup, cycling, and ongoing water quality maintenance.
- Helps diagnose water quality issues critical for the health of fish, invertebrates, and plants.
- Easy-to-follow instructions with a clear colour chart for straightforward interpretation.
- Measures vital dissolved minerals, including calcium and magnesium.
Specifications:
- Test Type: Liquid-reagent test kit
- Measures: General Hardness (GH), dissolved calcium and magnesium
- Aquarium Compatibility: Freshwater aquariums
What's Included:
- Required GH test reagents
- Test tube
- Instruction card with test colour chart
Why Test General Hardness?
General hardness (GH) measures the concentration of dissolved minerals (calcium and magnesium) in the water. Often overlooked, GH plays a critical role in aquarium health. These minerals support key physiological functions in fish, invertebrates, and plants, including skeletal development, osmoregulation, and enzyme activity.
Testing and maintaining appropriate GH is important for the long-term health of your aquarium’s inhabitants. Calcium and magnesium deficiencies can cause poor growth in fish, molting difficulties in freshwater shrimp, and stunted growth and development in plants — leaving imbalances unaddressed can ultimately lead to stress and disease.
Directions:
Info: To remove childproof safety cap, push down while turning.
- Fill a clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested (to the line on the tube).
- Holding the GH test solution dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position, add one drop at a time. Cap the test tube and gently shake between drops. Count the drops as they are added.
- The test is complete when the water in the test tube turns from yellow/orange to green (after having been gently shaken).
If you have difficulty discerning the colour, remove the cap from the test tube and while holding it over a white background, look down through the tube.
Note: See conversion chart. The number of drops needed to turn the water from yellow to green determines the GH value.
GH Drop Counter Calculator
The number of drops needed to turn the water from yellow/orange to green determines the GH value.
| Number of drops | GH value (ppm) | GH value (dGH) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.9 | 1 dGH |
| 2 | 35.8 | 2 dGH |
| 3 | 53.7 | 3 dGH |
| 4 | 71.6 | 4 dGH |
| 5 | 89.5 | 5 dGH |
| 6 | 107.4 | 6 dGH |
| 7 | 125.3 | 7 dGH |
| 8 | 143.2 | 8 dGH |
| 9 | 161.1 | 9 dGH |
| 10 | 179.0 | 10 dGH |
| 11 | 196.9 | 11 dGH |
| 12 | 214.8 | 12 dGH |
DO NOT allow test solutions to get into aquarium. Read and follow all precautions on the product label.
About Your Test Results:
Common species GH ranges:
- Soft water fish, like Discus and other South American cichlids: below 4 dGH (0 – 70 ppm)
- Tropical community fish, like tetras and betta: 4-8 dGH (70 – 140 ppm)
- African Rift Lake cichlids: above 8 dGH (140+ ppm)
How to Adjust General Hardness (GH):
- To increase the GH of your water, add Fritz R/O Recharge or Fritz Rift Lake Cichlid Salt as needed.
- To decrease the GH of your water, perform partial water changes with water with a lower GH (such as RO/DI).
Fritz General Hardness (GH) Test
Testing your aquarium’s water parameters regularly is an important part of keeping and maintaining a healthy environment for your fish and invertebrates. The Fritz General Hardness (GH) Test kit is a liquid-reagent-based test that accurately measures GH in freshwater aquariums. The kit contains the required reagents, a test tube, and an instruction card with a test colour chart.
General hardness (GH) measures the concentration of dissolved minerals (calcium and magnesium) in the water. Often overlooked, GH plays a critical role in aquarium health. These minerals support key physiological functions in fish, invertebrates, and plants, including skeletal development, osmoregulation, and enzyme activity. Testing and maintaining appropriate GH is important for the long-term health of your aquarium’s inhabitants. Calcium and magnesium deficiencies can cause poor growth in fish, molting difficulties in freshwater shrimp, and stunted growth and development in plants — leaving imbalances unaddressed can ultimately lead to stress and disease.
Key Features:
- Accurately measures General Hardness (GH) levels in freshwater aquariums.
- Liquid-reagent-based test for reliable and precise results.
- Essential for new tank setup, cycling, and ongoing water quality maintenance.
- Helps diagnose water quality issues critical for the health of fish, invertebrates, and plants.
- Easy-to-follow instructions with a clear colour chart for straightforward interpretation.
- Measures vital dissolved minerals, including calcium and magnesium.
Specifications:
- Test Type: Liquid-reagent test kit
- Measures: General Hardness (GH), dissolved calcium and magnesium
- Aquarium Compatibility: Freshwater aquariums
What's Included:
- Required GH test reagents
- Test tube
- Instruction card with test colour chart
Why Test General Hardness?
General hardness (GH) measures the concentration of dissolved minerals (calcium and magnesium) in the water. Often overlooked, GH plays a critical role in aquarium health. These minerals support key physiological functions in fish, invertebrates, and plants, including skeletal development, osmoregulation, and enzyme activity.
Testing and maintaining appropriate GH is important for the long-term health of your aquarium’s inhabitants. Calcium and magnesium deficiencies can cause poor growth in fish, molting difficulties in freshwater shrimp, and stunted growth and development in plants — leaving imbalances unaddressed can ultimately lead to stress and disease.
Directions:
Info: To remove childproof safety cap, push down while turning.
- Fill a clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested (to the line on the tube).
- Holding the GH test solution dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position, add one drop at a time. Cap the test tube and gently shake between drops. Count the drops as they are added.
- The test is complete when the water in the test tube turns from yellow/orange to green (after having been gently shaken).
If you have difficulty discerning the colour, remove the cap from the test tube and while holding it over a white background, look down through the tube.
Note: See conversion chart. The number of drops needed to turn the water from yellow to green determines the GH value.
GH Drop Counter Calculator
The number of drops needed to turn the water from yellow/orange to green determines the GH value.
| Number of drops | GH value (ppm) | GH value (dGH) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.9 | 1 dGH |
| 2 | 35.8 | 2 dGH |
| 3 | 53.7 | 3 dGH |
| 4 | 71.6 | 4 dGH |
| 5 | 89.5 | 5 dGH |
| 6 | 107.4 | 6 dGH |
| 7 | 125.3 | 7 dGH |
| 8 | 143.2 | 8 dGH |
| 9 | 161.1 | 9 dGH |
| 10 | 179.0 | 10 dGH |
| 11 | 196.9 | 11 dGH |
| 12 | 214.8 | 12 dGH |
DO NOT allow test solutions to get into aquarium. Read and follow all precautions on the product label.
About Your Test Results:
Common species GH ranges:
- Soft water fish, like Discus and other South American cichlids: below 4 dGH (0 – 70 ppm)
- Tropical community fish, like tetras and betta: 4-8 dGH (70 – 140 ppm)
- African Rift Lake cichlids: above 8 dGH (140+ ppm)
How to Adjust General Hardness (GH):
- To increase the GH of your water, add Fritz R/O Recharge or Fritz Rift Lake Cichlid Salt as needed.
- To decrease the GH of your water, perform partial water changes with water with a lower GH (such as RO/DI).
- Availability: 1