Ph Question

[DiddleBug]

We have a water softener (using salt) which was just put in for all the taps.  (We used to have hard water.) The only thing that's hard now is the well outside.  i have fish that like ph of 7.2-7.6.  Would this soft water have a low ph?  i did a water test and it looked like it was still 7.4 ph.  Is that right?   Can i still use tap water for my fish?  

 

[tmoney7]

I have a water softener as well but i do not use the water that goes through it because i do not know what exactly is happening inside of it and i don't want to take the chance of something being added to the water that may be safe for us but not for fish, so i just use a hose outside that bypasses the softener. 
 
But don't take what i am saying and think that you cant use your water from the softener,  there is all kinds of mixed thoughts on it and it works for some but not for others so i just decided not to take the risk

 

[xKNYx]

Just use a dechlorinator and it should be fine.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Maybe this will help.
 

 
Typical home water softeners soften water using a technique known as "ion exchange''. That is, they remove calcium and magnesium ions by replacing them with sodium ions. Although this does technically make water softer, most fish won't notice the difference. That is, fish that prefer soft water don't like sodium either, and for them such water softeners don't help at all. Thus, home water softeners are not an appropriate way to soften water for aquarium use.

from http/fins.actwin.com/aquariafaq.html
 
Not all water softeners work using the same methods. Yhis is merely the most common. You should try to determine how yours works to know whether you want to use tap water or outside water.

 

[DiddleBug]

Yes, our water is softened by on exchange.  Does this mean my guppies and cories will be okay with it?  like is the ph the same as it was as "hard water"?  

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Did you read the part of what I posted above that said:
 
 

That is, fish that prefer soft water don't like sodium either, and for them such water softeners don't help at all. Thus, home water softeners are not an appropriate way to soften water for aquarium use.

 

[DiddleBug]

ok.  I'll make sure to only use our well water from our pump.  Thanks for your advice.

 

[paradiddle]

Buy some Prime, doesn't affect ph but gets rid of chlorine chloramine, ammonia and nitrite etc etc