Hardwater tank candidates

[Essjay]

RO is the best way to 'soften' water but a lot of fish keepers don't want to go down that route so they need fish which do well in hard water.

Yes but I meant its range is lower than most other livebearers, so its one that does better softer than others who need over 15-20DH like platies and mollies for example. Thats what I meant.

Sorry, I misunderstood. I though you meant SF said they do better in soft water than in hard water

 

[AilyNC]

I would prefer to use my tap water and fish suited to it. There's a few of us with hard water who have lists of suitable fish so it's nice to have it in one place for reference. Plus it helps discover other options you haven't found.

 

[Wills]

You can get water softener to enable you to keep most of these

Most of these chemicals are not great for fish long term, they also result in fluctuating levels too. RO is an option but also expensive and quite a big commitment.

I started this thread because I want to keep fish suited naturaly to the water I have in my taps. Its not something that is a readily available source of information because otherwise collectively we would have found it. The other interesting thing I have found from doing this research is that you start to find rivers, river systems, regions in countries typically said to be soft water that are on a bed of limestone... meaning that any fish living in there must be able to live in hard water safely.

One of the most popular sayings on this forum is that you cannot just measure the success of a tank based on them just surviving and by putting this information together I believe those of us in hard water areas will be able to achieve tanks where the fish are not just surviving but thriving, living to their expected life spans, potentially breeding and in good health and colours.

I'm really surprised at the level of negativity to a proactive thread to help people with hard water, especially when we come see so many new members on this forum that have hard water and get alienated by being told repeatedly to rehome their tetras and cories...

Wills

 

[CassCats]

Most of these chemicals are not great for fish long term, they also result in fluctuating levels too. RO is an option but also expensive and quite a big commitment.

I started this thread because I want to keep fish suited naturaly to the water I have in my taps. Its not something that is a readily available source of information because otherwise collectively we would have found it. The other interesting thing I have found from doing this research is that you start to find rivers, river systems, regions in countries typically said to be soft water that are on a bed of limestone... meaning that any fish living in there must be able to live in hard water safely.

One of the most popular sayings on this forum is that you cannot just measure the success of a tank based on them just surviving and by putting this information together I believe those of us in hard water areas will be able to achieve tanks where the fish are not just surviving but thriving, living to their expected life spans, potentially breeding and in good health and colours.

I'm really surprised at the level of negativity to a proactive thread to help people with hard water, especially when we come see so many new members on this forum that have hard water and get alienated by being told repeatedly to rehome their tetras and cories...

Wills

This thread was a good idea. It gives people a reference all in one go for options.
Perhaps it would be helpful in the original first post with the official list to separate the options into categories. Either by type of fish (catfish, tetras, etc) or by tank size limits, etc.

 

[AilyNC]

On the PH - my hardness is 250ppm but my pH of 8 (7.6 tap water after 24hrs but always ends up as 8 in tank).

This seems to rule out more fish more. I match the hardness but not PH. Like the Cory listed here:

Common name: Sterba's Corydoras
Scientific name: Corydoras Sterbai
Ph: 6-7.6
Hardness: 18-268ppm
Temperature: 24-28C
Origin: Bolivia, Brazil, South America
Source: https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/corydoras-sterbai/
Comment: warmer water corydoras!

 

[itiwhetu]

I think you need to be careful ruling out pH

 

[AilyNC]

I think you need to be careful ruling out pH

I haven't so far - that's the query really. Is ph as important to stick to as hardness?

 

[itiwhetu]

I haven't so far - that's the query really. Is ph as important to stick to as hardness?

I have no idea. I was brought up looking at pH. The hardness equation is new to me.

 

[AilyNC]

I have no idea. I was brought up looking at pH. The hardness equation is new to me.

I think I'll go safe & look at matching both so. So far there's a nice hard water mix & very nearly finished my stocking. I might add a few more bronze cories to my group of 6.

 

[CassCats]

Stability in pH is more important. Higher pH might just mean they won't spawn or perhaps issues with eggs hatching should they still spawn.

 

[AilyNC]

Stability in pH is more important. Higher pH might just mean they won't spawn or perhaps issues with eggs hatching should they still spawn.

Thanks. I'm looking at adding a few more cories but might just stick with bronze and add to their group