Hard Water

15 posts • Page 1 of 2

Discuss all topics related to freshwater and planted tanks.


mzhantsche
 
Posts: 115
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:27 am

Hard Water

by mzhantsche

My water keeps testing really high on hardness. any suggestions. Everything else is fine. Fish seem fine. Even did a water change and resulted in high levels of hard water.


stingraysrule
 
Posts: 271
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:37 pm

by stingraysrule

Have you tested your water out of the tap?
Add more driftwood. This will definitely bring down the PH.
Get yourself another test also, just in case the one you have is off.
There is no reason your water would have a PH that is high unless you have a bad test kit, or the water out of the tap is a high PH.


mzhantsche
 
Posts: 115
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:27 am

by mzhantsche

The test says the PH is fine. It has a category for hardness. That's where its topping the charts. I do have a large piece of drift wood in their.


Alasse
 
Posts: 993
Joined: Sun May 09, 2010 5:35 am
Location: QLD Australia

by Alasse

Have you tested straight from the tap? Has it alwas been high? Have you added anything new? Do you have any rocks in there? What is your substrate?

Believe me you will need lots and lots of driftwood to make a significant change to hardness.


AquamanCA
 
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 10:02 pm

by AquamanCA

Stop putting viagra into your tank.
If you experience hard water for more than 4 hours, seek immediate medical attention.

Sorry couldn't help myself HAHA

Ok seriously now...have you tested your tap water? It is quite common for many municipalities to have very hard water. If you haven't tested your tap water yet, it is impossible to figure out what is causing the hard water. Find the source and you can fix the problem. Hard water is caused by dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. If it is coming from the tap, you should look into getting an RO unit. In the meantime get Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Water Softener Pillows. Follow the directions carefully so you can reuse the product. One good thing about this product is it uses salt ions so it will not leach into the water table.


dream2reef
 
Posts: 521
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 4:19 am

by dream2reef

I love this new aquaman! I'm always up for lame jokes I use em as often as I can lol. I just add salt idk? I love the ad btw


yasherkoach
 
Posts: 1306
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:24 pm

by yasherkoach

The degree of water hardness relates to the amount of dissolved minerals, especially calcium and magnesium, in the water.

so like the other hobbyist stated, do you have too much rock in the water that may have too much calcium deposits.

But you know, hardness in the water is not as bad as soft water. Super soft water can really screw up your ph; too much hardness in the water is really not too much a problem.

I also agree, test the tap water first. And I hope you are using liquid tests


mzhantsche
 
Posts: 115
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:27 am

by mzhantsche

I use the strip testers. My substrate (im assuming you mean rock or sand. I'm new to this) is medium sized rocks you buy at pet smart. I have only one rock that measures about 3x3". I haven't tested my tap water yet cuz its in a box which has a rock background im making for another tank on it. Ill probably test tomorrow and post results. I think that answers everyone questions. thanks so much for the help. I'm trying to learn as much as i can about larger tanks because i have a 200 gal sitting in my garage waiting for some money to set it up right. I figure id learn with my 20 gal so i have a better chance with my 200 gal.

I also just had a large mystery snail lay eggs. I don't know if that has anything to do with it.


mzhantsche
 
Posts: 115
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:27 am

by mzhantsche

Just tested my tap water and it is very hard. The (GH) ppm is between 150 and 300. I think Ive scene softeners should i mess with it if hard water isn't too unhealthy for the fish?


yasherkoach
 
Posts: 1306
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:24 pm

by yasherkoach

medium hard 135 to 200 ppm
hard 200 to 350 ppm

the above is on average

so yours is 150-300 which is mediumt to medium hard; so it's not very hard.

Liquid test results will be more accurate, but let us say your testing is close to exact, even at 150-300, water being hard is not as bad as water being soft

depends on the fish you keep of course...some fish require certain water parameters others are more flexible...so with this knowledge, if you are really set on lowering the hardness in the water you can try the following:

The water can be filtered through peat moss or filtered through a reverse osmosis system (reverse osmosis can be expensive, a basic unit like the Coralife Pure-Flo II RO Units can run about $120.00). If you go the peat moss way, the best way to go about it is, aerate water for 1-2 weeks in a bucket containing peat moss; for example, get a (plastic) bucket of the appropriate size. Then, get a large quantity of peat (a gallon or more), boil it (so that it sinks), stuff it in a pillow case, and place it in the water bucket. Use an air pump to aerate it. In 1-2 weeks, the water will be softer and more acidic. Use this aged water when making partial water changes on your tank (you can buy the peat moss at a garden shop). At first the water may get cloudy, but it will clear as the peat moss is filtered after several hours.

The best way to go about is, the reverse osmosis. My advice is, stay away from any home softener filters and chemicals.

BUt like I said earlier, hard water is not so bad, so if you like to wait to set up your 200 gallon tank, you may save up for the RO (reverse osmosis), that way, all water changing will have consistent low hardness readings.

Let me know how things go; or what you wind up doing, like to help you with this issue (as I do know others would too)

Hard Water

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