Questions questions questions

[AmyLynn]

I have a couple of different questions and I thought I'd save room by using one thread. :ssmile:

First question. Has anyone ever used a water softener pillow? Says it's an ion-exchange filter media that removes calcium, magnesium and heavy metals. I have pretty hard water and I think the gouramis and otocinclus that I would like to get would prefer somewhat softer water. But I'm concerned that the change in hardness every time I do a water change might stress them more.

Second question. Has anyone ever had good luck mail ordering otocinclus? My LFS didn't even have a clue as to what they are. Or at least the person answering the phone didn't. My only other way to get them would be to wait until I head to Denver and bring them home with me. Still worried about stress either way I do it.

TIA for the help. thumbs2:

[bushwhacker]

first i wouldnt mess with the ph. its much better to have it stable than to be constanly fluctuating. second i've never ordered ottos but i have fish shipped in all the time. only one time did i have a problem, the fish actually spiked the bag and drained the water

[smaug]

Water hardness is hardly noticed by common tank raised fish.Keep your system consistent,dont mess with it.

[AmyLynn]

Would using the pillow to soften the water definitely change the pH? I'm not too worried about my pH. While it's a bit high at 7.6 it seems to be in an acceptable range.

I just know I am sick and tired of having to just about chisel residue off of the back of my light, the hood, the glass and the sides of my filter.

I think I am just destined to keep chiseling, scraping and scrubbing. :shrug:

[smaug]

I have never used one of those pillows.I think they are rechargeable arent they.No,changing the hardeness will not always lower ph by a big amount,possible .3-.5,that is unless you drastically reduce it.

[AmyLynn]

I have never used one of those pillows.I think they are rechargeable arent they.No,changing the hardeness will not always lower ph by a big amount,possible .3-.5,that is unless you drastically reduce it.

Yes. You recharge in a solution of water and aquarium salt. But evidently you have to recharge every 48 hours. Would I only need to use it for 48 hours every time I water change? Would it be a permanent 2 days in and then recharge?

Am I really trying to make my upkeep harder? :hmm3grin2orange:

[bushwhacker]

i dont trust any of that stuff... a nice big piece of drifwood would be just as good and look a lot better to boot

[AmyLynn]

i dont trust any of that stuff... a nice big piece of drifwood would be just as good and look a lot better to boot

But the driftwood is only going to change my pH, right? The piece I have in there now doesn't even seem to do that.

I think I'm just going to forget the pillow thing. Once upon a time I had a couple of spawning angels so my water must not be terribly inhospitable, right?

[smaug]

Driftwood does nothing to reduce hardness,only ph,even a big piece would only drop you .2-.3 in ph.

[AmyLynn]

Thanks much for the answers. I think i'm just going to leave well enough alone where my water is concerned. None of the fish have ever seemed too worried by it so why should I be? LOL

[smaug]

Thanks much for the answers. I think i'm just going to leave well enough alone where my water is concerned. None of the fish have ever seemed too worried by it so why should I be? LOLNow you got it.You see,the fish never read the book about there "requirements":22:

[bushwhacker]

good thing to or we'd have the fishie lawyers assn. all over our asses

[Cristoff]

good thing to or we'd have the fishie lawyers assn. all over our asses


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:hmm3grin2orange:

[AmyLynn]

Now wouldn't that be scary to see. Little lawyer fishes. ROFLMAO

[Mith]

Thanks much for the answers. I think i'm just going to leave well enough alone where my water is concerned. None of the fish have ever seemed too worried by it so why should I be? LOL


Because your fish don't know they can be flushed down the toilet... LOL

(ya ya, I know, don't flush your fish)....

[AmyLynn]

Because your fish don't know they can be flushed down the toilet... LOL

(ya ya, I know, don't flush your fish)....


:stickwhack: Bad Mith! HAHAHAHAHA