water is too freakin hard
- Thread starter CoNMaN
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Firstly why do you feel the need to soften your water? I wouldn't reccomend softening water to most people... And if you have to ask how - you probably aren't ready for the challenge.
As for methods, there is peat filtration. Cutting with RO/DI water. There are chemicals that do it, but they don't function as you'd think. The way I understand it'll make your KH/GH go down - but they trade for another chemical that isn't read by your average kh/gh test kits (TDS/Conductivity meters aren't fooled).
As for methods, there is peat filtration. Cutting with RO/DI water. There are chemicals that do it, but they don't function as you'd think. The way I understand it'll make your KH/GH go down - but they trade for another chemical that isn't read by your average kh/gh test kits (TDS/Conductivity meters aren't fooled).
Its the easiest way thats for sure, but peat filtration also has its benefits. I was just throwing out the options 
Problem with peat filtration is it uses a lot of peat, thus there is lots of peat to dispose of. It gives you 'blackwater' but it can be an effective way to soften and add humic acid - which can trigger spawning in many South american fish.
Andy
Problem with peat filtration is it uses a lot of peat, thus there is lots of peat to dispose of. It gives you 'blackwater' but it can be an effective way to soften and add humic acid - which can trigger spawning in many South american fish.
Andy
I'm going to chuck in my 2 usual arguments for RO here, and getting kH under control before you start this
1. Peat - you may well need to use a heck of a lot to do anything, and for every damn water change...? I've done it with soft water, maybe I'm lazy but I can't imagine this working with very hard water.
2. CO2 -yeah it moves your pH around, but it isn't very stable, and I don't like those big variations. I suppose it's possible with an electronically meter and supply system but that's beyond my DIY skills.
1. Peat - you may well need to use a heck of a lot to do anything, and for every damn water change...? I've done it with soft water, maybe I'm lazy but I can't imagine this working with very hard water.
2. CO2 -yeah it moves your pH around, but it isn't very stable, and I don't like those big variations. I suppose it's possible with an electronically meter and supply system but that's beyond my DIY skills.
my kh is 240 and my gh is 140 and my fish have no problems with it at all. what kind of fish do you have or want to put in there?
i have von rio tetras, otos,bristlenose plco,clown loaches,apple snails,ramshorn snails,scizortail rasboras,panda cories,peppered cories,black neons,glowlights,albino plco,false siamese algae eaters,chinese algae eaters,tiger barbs(norm and green).
and all these fish have no problem with the hard water.
my PH is also high at 8.5
i have von rio tetras, otos,bristlenose plco,clown loaches,apple snails,ramshorn snails,scizortail rasboras,panda cories,peppered cories,black neons,glowlights,albino plco,false siamese algae eaters,chinese algae eaters,tiger barbs(norm and green).
and all these fish have no problem with the hard water.
my PH is also high at 8.5
pH has nothing to do with hardness! (well not really) They are two seperate (but linked) components of water chemistry. pH measures the Acidity/Alkalinity of the water, Hardness (KH/GH) basically measures the amount of 'minerals' in the water.
Changing the pH of the water does nothing to effect the hardness.
Andy
Changing the pH of the water does nothing to effect the hardness.
Andy
I stand corrected.
If you want to lower the PH, I would use a diy co2.
Sorry about the slip andyl.
However, i'm curious now. I thought that water's hardness is based apon how many mineral are dissolved in it. I'm thinking calcium has to be a large chunk of it.
I know that adding CO2 makes the water more acidic (lowering PH) wouldn't this eventually where out the buffer and soften the water?
sailfin
If you want to lower the PH, I would use a diy co2.
Sorry about the slip andyl.
However, i'm curious now. I thought that water's hardness is based apon how many mineral are dissolved in it. I'm thinking calcium has to be a large chunk of it.
I know that adding CO2 makes the water more acidic (lowering PH) wouldn't this eventually where out the buffer and soften the water?
sailfin
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Hardness is a count of dissolved ions, pH on the ratio of H+ to OH- ions. Putting in CO2 will affect the latter, but not the former. If I have time today or tomorrow I'll work out the chemistry.
The former affects the latter, but fiddling with the latter is unlikely to affect the former unless you so screw with the water chemistry you preciptiate out calcium for example (not unheard of in marine tanks where people add the wrong combination of additives)
The former affects the latter, but fiddling with the latter is unlikely to affect the former unless you so screw with the water chemistry you preciptiate out calcium for example (not unheard of in marine tanks where people add the wrong combination of additives)
go to www.fishgeeks.com there is a great article on water hardness and ph in the faqs/articles i forget which one but either way you'll be all the wiser after you have checked them both out