Beginner - Lowering Hardness

[blahblah]

Hi, and hello to everybody on this forum.

I used to keep fish almost 20 years ago now, and have decided to get back into fish keeping again. I've have been lurking around here for a few weeks now, trying to find out all the info I need, plus bought a few books too. I own more books than fish right now I have no fish tank yet either, just at the planning stage right now.

Anyway, the first step has been to check the hardness and PH for the tap water at home. The results were:

KdH = 15 degrees

GH = 23 degrees

PH = 7.5

As most of the fish I wish to keep are best suited to around 10 degrees water hardness, what would be my best way to lower this hardness? I read Peat Moss in the filter would work, so maybe I have the answer already, but I would like to hear other peoples opinions. Also, should I choose a particular type of substrate to help too? I'm planning on a planted tank btw.

Thanks in advance for any answers recieved

 

[rabbut]

Hi, and hello to everybody on this forum.

I used to keep fish almost 20 years ago now, and have decided to get back into fish keeping again. I've have been lurking around here for a few weeks now, trying to find out all the info I need, plus bought a few books too. I own more books than fish right now I have no fish tank yet either, just at the planning stage right now.

Anyway, the first step has been to check the hardness and PH for the tap water at home. The results were:

KdH = 15 degrees

GH = 23 degrees

PH = 7.5

As most of the fish I wish to keep are best suited to around 10 degrees water hardness, what would be my best way to lower this hardness? I read Peat Moss in the filter would work, so maybe I have the answer already, but I would like to hear other peoples opinions. Also, should I choose a particular type of substrate to help too? I'm planning on a planted tank btw.

Thanks in advance for any answers recieved

If lowering the hardness and pH is essential, i would use RO (specialy purifyed water) mixed with a good mineral retopic, to achive the correct hardness. Personaly, I would use water strait out the tap. Most fish can addapt to a stable pH and harness, so long as there is no fluctuation. Peat moss would work, however, it will caurse fluctuations at waterchangea, that will knock the stuffing out of the tank occupants.
HTH
rabbut

 

[blahblah]

Thanks for your answer Rabbut, much appreciated.

Which is the most important number in water hardness tests btw - KH or GH?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

In terms of what effects fish most between the two Im not sure.

I would agree though not to worry too much about it. While a lot of fish will prefer softer water many will adapt to harder water. My water is very similar to yours and I have kept a lot of soft water fish (cardinal tetras for example) which have lived for many years. It becomes more of an issue if you are trying to breed these fish as it can effect egg and fry development but for just keeping them alive and happy it will be fine.

Depending on your budget the ADA substrates do help to lower the water hardness, also bogwood in the tank and using peat in the filter will lower it as well. I use ADA soil in my planted tank and it does drop the KH down a degree or two.

Its better to use tap water and do regular water changes then use pre-treated water which then makes water changing a chore which might then get missed more often. Stable, clean water is the best thing for fish.

 

[rabbut]

Which is the most important number in water hardness tests btw - KH or GH?

IMO, KH is the most improtant. This is the hardness that holds the pH stable. GH is the more irrelavant one, as it is a measure of all the other salts disolved within the water.

HTH
rabbut

 

[edgelgil]

I have a similar problem in my region, northern high plains desert of Utah, USA. Our water is medium hard and the pH is perfact for a Marine tank, but really difficult to keep at a tollerable level for most freshwater fish. Even brac eco environments require desolved minerals to bring it into play and functionable levels. Good luck, peat works, but best to mix up a large batch or even set up a water station with a few 55gl barrels to cycle on filter system and keep it always doused with the chems or filter through a rock bank to help keep it at nuetral.

Good luck,

Maximo

 

[blahblah]

Thanks to everyone for their replies.

I think I will go the ADA soil root, and add some bogwood to, as I'm not thinking of breeding fish right now, just I don't want to kill them accidentally

xxBarneyxx - can I have gravel ontop of the ADA soil, or sand maybe, or isn't it supposed to be topped off?

Cheers

 

[xxBarneyxx]

As far as I know there is no problem with topping it off with gravel 9though it might make planting a little more difficult. The ADA soil though actually looks very good and comes in different colours and sizes so you can get something to meet what you are looking for.