View Full Version : Softening my water?
zackish
06-20-2007, 01:42 AM
I am unsure how hard my water is but I know it is on the harder side because I have a water treatment system for my well. I was wondering what any of you would reccommend to soften water.
cocoa_pleco
06-20-2007, 03:01 AM
a water softener pillow
zackish
06-20-2007, 04:30 AM
a water softener pillow
What in the world is that? Some kinda thing that you can put in your filter that softens the water?
a water softener pillow
Make sure it's goose down and not that synthetic stuff ... lol!
This is what cocoa meant ...
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You could also add peat pellets to your filter media, works very nicely and naturally, bringing your pH level and water hardness down. But it does make the water somewhat murky from the tannis.
Drumachine09
06-20-2007, 04:49 AM
A constant condition that is not ideal for a fish is much better than a changing condtion while trying to keep it ideal.
I belive drift wood softens water, and i think (dont quote me) plants soften water.
A constant condition that is not ideal for a fish is much better than a changing condtion while trying to keep it ideal.
Agreed! Better to have a pH level thats a bit too high or low and have softer or harder water (depending on what kind of fish you have) and have it stable as opposed to it constantly fluctuating up and down. Less stress for the fish, and stress is harder on the fish than having your water conditions less than perfect.
zackish
06-20-2007, 05:40 AM
Well I just bought 2 really nice pieces of malaysian driftwood yesturday so that's good. Also, would you guys reccommend buying a water hardness tester just to see how mine is? I really have no clue how hard my water is.
Also, would you guys reccommend buying a water hardness tester just to see how mine is? I really have no clue how hard my water is.
It would be a good idea to get one, but not as important as say nitrite, nitrate, ammonnia and pH tests, but to be honest, if you really want to get serious about fish keeping, I recommend buying a master test kit like this one ....
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.... they are a bit pricey, but they everything you need and stores in a nice little hardshell case. Well worth the money.
zackish
06-20-2007, 06:09 AM
ahahha I will hold off on that one for now because I already have a master one for PH, Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. I think my water is generally healthy because it's from a well and I have no calcium.
ahahha I will hold off on that one for now because I already have a master one for PH, Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. I think my water is generally healthy because it's from a well and I have no calcium.
What kind of fish do you have or are planning to keep? I should have added that some fish (such as discus) are very sensitve to water conditions. Also, seeing that you already have the important tests, for the extra few bucks you might as well buy the tests for gh and kh.
Lady Hobbs
06-20-2007, 12:51 PM
Peat can be put in bags and stuck in the back of your filter. Peat pellets are also sold for this reason but they will also make your water darker like tannins in the wood. If you don't like the effect, then I suggest not using it.
Water hardness is easy to spot if you have a great deal of lime scaling on your filter and the water line around your tank. If your water is hard where you live, your mother would probably know as she's the one who has to clean the toilet and sinks of lime scale. The water where I live is pretty near the top of the scale but my fish have tolerated it well apparently as I have the same fish I've had for over a year with very, very few deaths.
One thing about being new to fishkeeping is that you worry about everything and most issues end up not being a problem at all. The more you read, the more confusing you can become and each thing can become an issue you fret over.
The best thing you can do for your fish is just do the regular water changes and keep the gravel free of debris and don't worry so much about the pH, the softness of the water and other things. If you have a particular fish that does not live in your water conditions, then replace it with a hardier fish than can.
One thing about being new to fishkeeping is that you worry about everything and most issues end up not being a problem at all. The more you read, the more confusing you can become and each thing can become an issue you fret over.
Agreed 100%, the more you get into this hobby, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you think. The more you think, the more money you spend. Best thing to do when starting out, is keep it simple. Focus on the important things (as Lady Hobbs mentioned above), keep the water clean, vacuum out the gravel and keep you nitrites and ammonnia levels down and water conditions stable. Once you get that down pat, research the different products and techniques available to maintain more preferred water conditions. If you try to do it all at once in the beginning, you'll find your water parameters will fluctuate causing stress on your fish.
RobbieG
06-22-2007, 12:43 PM
I agree with the others everything else being equal the two things that are going to kill your fish are ammonia and PH.
You control ammonia by cycling the tank, not overstocking it, cleaning up excess food/waste, and doing water changes.
PH itself isn't necesarily dangerous, but sudden changes in it are. You contol this by being careful about what you use for substrate and decorations, keeping an eye on the water you use for water changes, and acclimating fish that you add to the tank.
If you do these things you should be free from 99% of the potential problems in fishkeeping.
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