Is hardwater a problem?

[Tenille]

I've noticed when I test the water in my 10g tank that it always shows
up as very hard. I have a rosy barb and a gold barb currently in the
tank and they seem to be doing fine. Should I add a water softener or
just leave it as it is? I intend on adding another gold and rosy in
the next few days so I want to make the changes before adding the new
fish if changes are needed.

Another question I have deals with my air pump. Should I remove it if
I want to add a few live plants to the tank??

Thanks
Val

[Flash Wilson]

On 8 Oct 2003 12:07:45 -0700, Tenille > wrote:
>I've noticed when I test the water in my 10g tank that it always shows
>up as very hard. I have a rosy barb and a gold barb currently in the
>tank and they seem to be doing fine. Should I add a water softener or
>just leave it as it is? I intend on adding another gold and rosy in
>the next few days so I want to make the changes before adding the new
>fish if changes are needed.

Firstly - hard water is IMO find on barbs, but not on things like
tetras, so as long as you match your fish choices to the water all
will be well. I've kept barbs in medium hard (330ppm) water and
they are all well and good.

Secondly - if you decide to soften it please don't use a commercial
softener method. They only swap out the hard water ions for other
ions which are nearly as bad, but don't show up on a test. If you
want to really soften water, look into peat filtering. I wouldn't
bother though, unless you have an actual need to do so in the future.

Thirdly - if you do soften your water, watch out for the pH! The ions
that cause hardness buffer the pH so it stays constant. With softer
water the pH can crash and dive much lower. (Simpler not to do it!)

>Another question I have deals with my air pump. Should I remove it if
>I want to add a few live plants to the tank??

I have live plants with an air pump, and they are fine. In fact some seem
to grow particularly well around the air stone - I wonder if it is
aerating the gravel, or something.

Can't see a problem unless they are very frail plants that break apart
from the agitation caused by the bubbling, or similar. Mostly it will be
absolutely fine - at least in my experience.

--
Flash Wilson
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