Water softener water OK?

[John Denk]

Hello,

I'm new here and need some help with a question regarding water quality.

I am hoping to set up an aquarium using my tap water, which is well
water. The water from my well is very hard and alkaline, so I have to
use a water softener.

Does softening tap water with a regular ion-exchange softener work OK
for aquarium water? Can the small amount of salt in the water hurt
anything? I use the type of salt that removes iron, as that's a problem
with my water too.

Thanks,
John

[George Pontis]

In article >,
says...
> Hello,
>
> I'm new here and need some help with a question regarding water quality.
>
> I am hoping to set up an aquarium using my tap water, which is well
> water. The water from my well is very hard and alkaline, so I have to
> use a water softener.
>
> Does softening tap water with a regular ion-exchange softener work OK
> for aquarium water? Can the small amount of salt in the water hurt
> anything? I use the type of salt that removes iron, as that's a problem
> with my water too.
>

The common ion-exchange water softener substitutes sodium in proportion to the
calcium carbonate. For very hard water (about 180 ppm CaCO3 equivalent) you will
get 84 mg/l sodium out of your softener. This is equivalent to 1 tsp salt per 17
gallons of water. Some people deliberately put more salt in their fresh water than
this. There is great debate to the merits of adding salt to the FW aquarium water,
but at this level perhaps plants would be more affected than most fish. Other
fish, including tetras and catfish, are more sensitive to salt. African cichlids
might thrive in your unsoftened water!

[Fuzzy]

To aggree with what was posted before, the levels of salt used in
conditioned water are genrally less than the amount of salt used. I use
1 tablespoon to every ten gallons, which is a higher concentration than
your conditioned water. As was mentioned there are many types of fish,
you don;t mention what types you are looking at. I am on well water
myself, and keeps Oscars, but have kept many other before, with no ill
effects. My water is on the hard end, but doesn't require conditioning.
You might want to test your well water, and find out what types of fish
do well in it. With the amount of water changes required, it may be more
economical to house a fish, that doesn't requier softened water. Just my
thoughts on it anyhow.



--
Posted via CichlidFish.com
http://www.cichlidfish.com/portal/forums

[Stuffed Piggy]

No! Water softeners are somehting that I've been warned about. I breed
guppies, and I actually go to great lengths to make sure my water is
hard, which is much much better for the fish.

--SP--
http://www.briandunnettandsons.co.nz/
http://www.clocksandbarometers.co.nz/
http://www.nitro.gen.nz

(John Denk) wrote in message >...
> Hello,
>
> I'm new here and need some help with a question regarding water quality.
>
> I am hoping to set up an aquarium using my tap water, which is well
> water. The water from my well is very hard and alkaline, so I have to
> use a water softener.
>
> Does softening tap water with a regular ion-exchange softener work OK
> for aquarium water? Can the small amount of salt in the water hurt
> anything? I use the type of salt that removes iron, as that's a problem
> with my water too.
>
> Thanks,
> John

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Water softener water OK?
>From: (Stuffed Piggy)
>Date: 12/5/2004 1:27 AM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>No! Water softeners are somehting that I've been warned about. I breed
>guppies, and I actually go to great lengths to make sure my water is
>hard, which is much much better for the fish.

There's something about the chemicals left behind or released into the water
that is not good for fish.
I know a guy who can give me the exacts on it if the gurus here don't have that
info.