Which Water?

[puffin3]

My tap water isn't clorinated. It's 6.0 PH.
The 'bottled' water I am now using is 'ionized' with a 6.0 PH.
I would like a 'softer' water about 6.5 PH at least.
I live right on the sea shore in central BC Canada so there's no local air pollution. The rain comes mostly off the ocean straight from Japan. Would using rain water in my tank be OK?
Thanks

 

[rdd1952]

Actually, you need harder (or less acidic is a better term) water if you want 6.5 rather than 6.0. Im not certain about rain water as there isn't any way to know what it has in it. I would just stick a small amount of crushed coral in the filter or a small piece of tufa rock in the tank to raise the pH slightly.

 

[puffin3]

I must be thick or something.
You mean 'harder' water is LESS acidic??
I thought 'hard water' means a lower ph-----say 5.5 and 'softer' water is more alkiline-say 6.5.

I've been thinking that the 'harder' the water is the more acidic it is. In fact 'hard' water is more alkaline because it has more disolved minerals in it than acidic water.
Do I have this right?
Thanks

 

[Tolak]

Hardness & pH are two different things, though often water with a higher pH is harder as well. Lower pH is more acidic, higher pH is alkaline. Hardness refers to dissolved minerals, mostly calcium & magnesium, but others as well.