I just installed a water softner in my home. Can I gradually introduce soft water into my tank? Or do I need to keep the hard water I currently use? I do add salt to keep the hardness own, but will full on soft water hurt my SA cichlids?
Soft Water?
- Thread starter DarthMaul
- Start date
I wouldn't bother with soft water. It's a pain to constantly manipulate the hardness levels considering these are simply captive bred. CB usually can adapt better than WC to various range of hardness levels without too much difficulty.
we have a water softener on our house. we did not do it to have soft water for the fish, but for other reasons. I use the water for my SA/CA fish tanks with no problems.
as Lupin suggested, captive-bred cichlids should adjust just fine to any gradual changes in water hardness, but in either case, I would note that my fish and plants have done absolutely fine.
are you using a sodium-based water softener? if so, I would suggest you just be a little careful and not use the water when it tastes "salty", which does happen from time to time.
also, in some cases you may have a tap - - often on the outside of the house - - that is off of the softener grid. if so, you may want to use that water instead of the softened water
as Lupin suggested, captive-bred cichlids should adjust just fine to any gradual changes in water hardness, but in either case, I would note that my fish and plants have done absolutely fine.
are you using a sodium-based water softener? if so, I would suggest you just be a little careful and not use the water when it tastes "salty", which does happen from time to time.
also, in some cases you may have a tap - - often on the outside of the house - - that is off of the softener grid. if so, you may want to use that water instead of the softened water
Sab_Fan;4178988; said:
This very reason IS why I would go and buy a refractomerter (very accurate tool for measuring salts) as you may end up with a brackish tank instead. Can't have salt sensitive fish in there too.
dr_sudz;4178998; said:
good thought . . . my cichlids have actually bred successfully in this water, but the salt is always a concern . . .
What exactly is a "water softener"? A Reverse Osmosis unit? What kind of South Americans are we talking, and what are your current parameters?
Because he wants to try and provide ideal water conditions for the fish he keeps, whether it be to simply promote health and well-being, or breeding.
Just because they're 'adapting' (which I read as 'surviving') does not mean they're thriving. Many species can develop HITH and other parasitic issues in water that is too hard or soft for them, whether they're captive bred or not. I'm unsure what the OP means when he says "water softener", but softening water and holding it steady with a pure/tap mix is far from difficult.
Lupin;4178751; said:
Because he wants to try and provide ideal water conditions for the fish he keeps, whether it be to simply promote health and well-being, or breeding.
Lupin;4178771; said:
Just because they're 'adapting' (which I read as 'surviving') does not mean they're thriving. Many species can develop HITH and other parasitic issues in water that is too hard or soft for them, whether they're captive bred or not. I'm unsure what the OP means when he says "water softener", but softening water and holding it steady with a pure/tap mix is far from difficult.
Potassium sulfate can be used in place of salt in a softener. It is better for people and plants...but I have no idea about fish, I havn't looked into it at all.
I use salt softened water for my rays, and straight well water for my Tilapia. However, I have a lot of Iron that turns the water orange, and it doesn't get filtered out much by the softener (softener removes minerals, not metals).
I will be instaling a greensand filter ahead of my softener to filter out Iron. The greensand is regenerated with Calcium Permagnate(sp?), so it replaces Iron with Calcium Ions. And then the softener replaces the calcium Ions with either sodium or potassium.
Potassium cost a bit more for a bag (about $2 more per 40lb)...but IMO, the water tastes better for drinking. I quit using it simply because it's harder to get at the store and I never think ahead enough to buy pallets of things like that. Also, I havn't looked into how it would affect fish.
So basically, with my system... I will be filling the Tilapia tanks with Greensand filtered water that is still hard, but with the Iron and Manganese removed...and filling the ray tanks with water filtered through both systems.
Mike
I use salt softened water for my rays, and straight well water for my Tilapia. However, I have a lot of Iron that turns the water orange, and it doesn't get filtered out much by the softener (softener removes minerals, not metals).
I will be instaling a greensand filter ahead of my softener to filter out Iron. The greensand is regenerated with Calcium Permagnate(sp?), so it replaces Iron with Calcium Ions. And then the softener replaces the calcium Ions with either sodium or potassium.
Potassium cost a bit more for a bag (about $2 more per 40lb)...but IMO, the water tastes better for drinking. I quit using it simply because it's harder to get at the store and I never think ahead enough to buy pallets of things like that. Also, I havn't looked into how it would affect fish.
So basically, with my system... I will be filling the Tilapia tanks with Greensand filtered water that is still hard, but with the Iron and Manganese removed...and filling the ray tanks with water filtered through both systems.
Mike