Please Explain KH & GH?

[marivan]

I'm really confused about all of these tests. I've got the general water tests, the ammonia tests and recently bought the KH & GH tests. The one I got says to put drops into each until they change colour. The KH (I think had to put in yellow drops until the colour changed to yellow (it started out as blue) and it was 13 drops. The other one had blue drops that you had to put in until it turned green (that was 3) but the chart give results in percentages and I have no idea how the number of drops relate to what she should have in her tank.

I have a water softener, so I'm not sure if that is bad for my axoltl or not. If her water is too hard, too soft etc.

I ask because I've had her now for about 6 years now (but she is at least 10 or more) and in the last while she just doesn't eat. She was eating these huge earthworms for a while, then suddenly stopped and then ate a few of my smaller wormery worms (and the occasional raw shrimp pieces) but not lately. She seems okay, but that can't be right. And I haven't seen a poop for ages. She sits around and sometimes swims, but I want to make sure she is okay. The last time I checked her water it was:
ph 7.6
ph high range 8.4
AMonia (NH3 NH4) .25
Nitrate NO 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm

I've thought about fridging her or getting all the stuff for that solution everyone mentions, but I'm not entirely sure she is sick. Her gills look less frilly, but they are still there.

Can someone explain how to read the KH and GH tests please? The kit is by API.

And can I put rain water or distilled water from my dehumidifier in her tank if the water is too soft? (or hard) The rain water came back with only 2 drops for both tests. I haven't tested the dehumidifier water yet.
Thank you.

 

[wolfen]

your carbonate hardness (kh) being 13 drops to change colour is 12° or 214.8ppm (it is marked as twelve as the drop that changes colour is classed as over) each degree/drop is 17.9ppm.
carbonate hardness is the amount of carbonates dissolved in the water, it is also the buffering ability.
general hardness is measured the same ie.. one degree/drop is 17.9ppm, yours is 35.8ppm which is very low and not very good.
general hardness measures mineral content ie.. calcium, magnesium etc.
50% holtfreters can be used (+ 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate) but without the bicarbonate of soda, this will provide the required salts and minerals without increasing kh only gh, also some carbonates should reduce as they bond to the calcium chloride to become calcium carbonate (limescale).
your ph is high at 8.4 (your normal ph is at the limit and isn't counted) rain water (provided it is boiled first and isn't in a high polluted area) should be fine to be used as it should be around neutral as will be dehumidified water (be careful of aromatics used or any other household chemicals as it will pollute the water) and can be used in partial water changes to reduce ph.
if the tan is 0.25ppm then waste is still being produced, be aware that although the amount of ammonia is low and safe it does become more harmful with higher ph.
ensure that there is adequate oxygenation.

 

[marivan]

HI Wolfen, Thank you. Our dehumidifier is in the basement for dampness, but there aren't any smells (is that what you mean?) to it. Thanks for the info on boiling the rain water. I did worry about parasites. My husband says that our goldfish are fine with it, but they are outside and used to it. Plus they aren't an axolotl.
I really wish they sold Holtfreters as I was really unsure about what I was buying (calcium carbonate) and potassium carbonate. Are these the correct types? The recipe I saw had these two ingredients plus salt (without iodine) and epsom salts. Is that right? My tank is 13"(d) x 36"(w) x 17"(h). How much should I use for this size of tank? And how often do I add it? I've read these threads but frankly I get myself more confused.
And do you think this will make her happier? I rescued her from someone who wasn't feeding or cleaning her regularly (and when she did, it was water right from the city, chlorine and all) so she has been happy for the past few years, but I don't want to kill her with kindness or stupidity. Thank you.

 

[wolfen]

the ingredients for 100% holtfreters is.. 3.5g/l non-iodised salt, 0.2g/l bicarbonate of soda, 0.1g/l calcium chloride, 0.05g/l potassium chloride, 50% holtfreters is half the measurements.
50% holtfreters plus 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate (epsom salt) for your tank ie.. 130 litre/34 gallon would be 227 grams salt, 13 grams bicarbonate of soda, 6.5 grams calcium chloride, 3.25 grams potassium chloride, 13 grams magnesium sulphate, 50% holtfreters + 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate is for health and preventative 100% is for medicational purposes.
any water taken out during water changes will contain holtfreter etc so will need to be replaced, it is easiest to measure out the required amounts of salt/calcium chloride/potasium chloride/magnesium sulphate into a one litre container, add hot/boiling water, stir till dissolved then let it cool ready for a water change, adding bicarbonate of soda separately (if required) this is because the bicarbonate of soda will combine with the calcium chloride to make calcium carbonate which is non-dissoluble and will leave deposits.
because axolotls are slight brackish moderate/hard water animals by providing salts/minerals it makes the water more compatible and comfortable to live in.
as a last note if there is mold growth due to damp do not use dehumidified water as mold can be an issue with axolotls and spores can be passed through damp air.

 

[marivan]

So, I'm getting a bit of the hang of all this chemistry (I think). I made up a John's solution because those were the ingredients I could easily get hold of, but in the end I decided to move Bonnie (my axolotl) to a smaller tank with the water from her tank while I completely clean out her larger tank. I found that the sand was hiding a lot of garbage so I've removed that. I even lost the few snails I had (died). I kept the filters from the previous water and treated the water with API stresscoat for the chlorine etc. Here are water test results for this morning.
KH 107.4,
GH 17.9 (the colour was never orange but light green from the start),
PH 7.6, High PH 8.4,
Amonia 0,
Nitrite 0,
Nitrate 0.

I think I have to raise GH but not the PH? I have ordered the ingredients for Holffretters, but should I now make up the solution without the baking soda? Should I substitute that with Epson Salts? OR just leave those out altogether. What numbers am I aiming for before I can put her back into her larger tank?

I hope I'm getting there. I hear that axolotls can forget how to eat, is that a thing? If I get her feeling better in her water, should that bring back her appetite?

Thank you.

 

[wolfen]

Do Not Use API Stresscoat as it contain aloe vera which has been know to effect axolotls badly.
using the salts/minerals in 50% holtfreters + 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate without bicarbonate of soda should have the effect of reducing both ph and kh whilst increasing gh, retest ph and kh a day after water change, if the kh is then low add 0.1g/l bicarbonate of soda (same as 50% holtfreters) to improve kh.
because solutions like holtfreters make the water more suitable and therefore more comfortable for axolotls their appetite can also increase as their overall health improves.

 

[marivan]

Do Not Use API Stresscoat as it contain aloe vera which has been know to effect axolotls badly.
using the salts/minerals in 50% holtfreters + 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate without bicarbonate of soda should have the effect of reducing both ph and kh whilst increasing gh, retest ph and kh a day after water change, if the kh is then low add 0.1g/l bicarbonate of soda (same as 50% holtfreters) to improve kh.
because solutions like holtfreters make the water more suitable and therefore more comfortable for axolotls their appetite can also increase as their overall health improves.

Thank you again. I'll mix up some of this today. And about API stresscoat. I've read so many places to use it. I read so many conflicting advice. I used to just put cold water in a big bucket and leave it for a day and then change her water and she was fine. The more I've worried about it, the worse it's gotten. But thank you, I hope to get the ingredients later today and I'll check the water parameters tomorrow.

 

[Animal_addict_88]

API also do Aquarium Salts which might be a better fit?
Unsure as I'm still new though x