What is the best way to soften water?

[outofmybin21]

Yeah my local fish shop told me to do 25% water changes every 3-4 weeks as well must be the norm

 

[pnyklr3]

Well, if it won't lower my pH too much, then I don't really have to worry about treatijng my water before water changes (I will make sure that they are close, though. And if they are not, I'll fix it). Will a swing in hardness/softness be as hard on my fish as a swing in pH?

You guys have all been so much help!!!

 

[shrimpster97]

Heres something that should help you out ALOT!


Step 1: Draw a square

Step 2: Place the GOAL hardness level in the square.

Step 3: Place the actual hardness level of your tank's water by the top left square.

Step 4: Now put the hardness level of the special RO warer in the bottom left square.

Step 5: Now subtract number diagonally (your Goal minus the actual hardness of your water. (and put that number at the bottom right of your square)

Step 6: Now subtract the other way diagonally. (your goal minus RO water) Remember, the bigger number goes into the calculator first. (and put that number at the top right of your square)

Step 7: Now add (+) the numbers on the right side of the square.

You need to know that the top right side of the square represents TAP water.

The bottom right side of rhe square represents the RO water.

Step 8: Now take the top (TAP) number from you problem and make it into a division problem using the the answer you got from adding the right sides.

**only need to write the first two numbers behind the decimal point.

Step 9: Now do the same type of problem for the RO number.

Step 10: Now take the answer from the tap and the and the answer from the RO and change them into percents.

What does this mean? your tank needs:

??% Tap water
and
??% Special RO water in order to lower your tank's hard ness level from a what you have now to what you need.







That^^ may have been confusing to some but i promise it will work if you follow the instructions. if you need the visual i have it i could scan if you need.

 

[pnyklr3]

That actually sounds pretty manageable. Now, the only thing left to do is find out exactly how soft these apisto cacatuoides like their water!

Once again thanks for all the help...and now to get a bucket that is clean (husband used my water change bucket for a garbage can ) so that I can draw my % marks on them. That is when I am done being a MATHEMATICAL GENIUS!!

*edited for spelling errors*