Healthy aquariums/healthy pond with conditions close to nature The right water values are dependent on the fish stock and the plants in the aquarium/pond. Even if the water looks clear it can be contaminated. With bad values diseases or algae can appear in the aquarium/pond. To maintain a healthy aquarium/pond with conditions close to nature it is important to check and adapt the water values regularly. For each water analysis JBL provides water tests in the form of quick tests or colour change tests. These determine a certain value or several values in one go. With these water tests you can recognise algae problems and negative nitrate, nitrite, potassium, magnesium values etc. Why test? Depending on origin and consistency of the subsoil, water may contain varying quantities of alkaline earth salts, usually in the form of calcium and magnesium salts. General hardness, by definition, is the sum of calcium and magnesium ions suspended in the water. Most fish and plants thrive well at a general hardness of between roughly 8 and 20°dH. Excessive total hardness values, should, however, be counteracted by the appropriate measures.
