Water Test Help

[franciee]

My water is very hard what can I do to soften it. Is this a big problem in a tank? Also my Alkalinity is not right It is coming up a dark blue color on the test strip and not a pale yellow or pale orange? Also my PH is coming up a dark pink? This is on a test strip what type of testing do you guys recommend.

 

[bigarn]

I wouldn't rely on test strips .... try Salifert test kits, they're the most accurate out there IMO.