Should I soften the water for Keyholes?

[Sox62]

I'm planning on placing seven juvenile keyholes in my 55 gallon,and I'm hoping to get a breeding pair.Everything I've read says they like a lower PH,and soft water.Using tap water for my tank,the tank water has a PH of 7.8,a GH of 179,and a KH of 54.

Do you think they'll be able to spawn ok in that,or should I try to soften and/or lower the PH,or just leave it be?

 

[hobby5]

Should be ok for the start. I would stick with it. Only if it doesn't work out in the long run you might think about changing something.

 

[Sox62]

I've added some driftwood to see if that helps.I don't feel like chasing the PH would be wise.

 

[StevenF]

[I've added some driftwood to see if that helps.I don't feel like chasing the PH would be wise.

Drift wood will not soften the water. The only way to soften the water is to remove minerals from it. The easiest way to do that is to mix some RO or distilled water with your tap water before adding it to the tank.