using soft water

[motoman]

I filled my tank using tap water that was softened. My KH values are really high, should I change all the water for reg. tap water or distilled water or is there another way to lower my KH and thus my PH?

Motoman

[dpatte]

kH and pH an not necessarily related

kH is the measurement of how many 'salts' are disolved in the water. hard water (hi gH or kH) tends to leave 'salt' residue when it evaporates.

pH is the measurement of how much free hydrogen is in the water.


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The easiest way to reduce kH is to add distilled or RO water to your tanks. There are also resins that remove hardness - but they are more expensive.

The easiest way to reduce pH is to add acids (citric or carbonic) to your water. Carbonic acid is easily added using a DIY CO2 generator.

[motoman]

Ok, so should I still worry about my KH values being so high? I've added peat plates for my plants and the people at Big Al's on Innes said that should help with my PH but I'm still getting values of 7.4 and I'd like to be 7 or just under. How can I build a DIY C02 generator and how is it added to the water? Thanks for the info.

Motoman

[luvfishies]

motoman, "softened" water is still "hard" water as far as fishies are concerned, as you're only exchanging one salt for another, and our test kits don't know the difference

Diluting your tapwater with RO or DI water, to get  KH reading of about 3, in addition to your peat, should put you right about pH 7.0. I wouldn't let the KH drop lower than 3dKH, or you risk your pH "crashing". It's recced to keep your KH at 3 or above when injecting CO2, for the same reason.

Of course, do your mixing OUT of the tank!

If I remember right, Ottawa water is pretty good all on it's own?

[motoman]

Ok thanks for the advise. How much water should I exchange for DI? I've only got a 20 gal tank here so it's not too big. I guess I could just experiment and see where it takes me. Do you think a WC of 1/4 would be too much right now. I have no fish just some java fern and hornwort. I'm holding out on the Tetras so I don't kill them.

[artw]

Ottawa tap water is extremely soft as David showed us from his treatment plant visit. it is 1.dKh I believe.  right david?

I guess motoman has well water.  which makes him the object of envy for all African cichlid keepers

[motoman]

Yeah I'm running on well water, anyone want to trade? I could just get some jugs... Ok, so I'll go with the RO or DI diluting method. I guess I've been interpreting my results wrong. The higher the GH and KH value the harder the water right? My GH is low, the water goes blue with the first drop but my KH takes like 20 drops from the test kit to change yellow. So I have a low GH and high KH. Any you're all saying that either I should change some of my water for DI or RO water and possibly add CO2 to my tank set up. I'll try these ideas out and I'll let you know how it turns out. I'll probably be asking a lot of questions though. Thanks folks!
Motoman

[luvfishies]

I would try 1/4 tapwater (UNTREATED, not the "softened") to 3/4 RO or DI. Test in a bucket, and if the KH is 5 or less, you should be able to do sucessive waterchanges and gradually lower the pH and KH in the tank.

Just for giggles what are the readings for pH/KH/GH from a tap that isn't on the softening system?

[dpatte]

actually trading is not a bad idea. You cold get some large blue containers - fill them with well water and trade them to some owners here for tapwater. Definately cheaper than buying distilled water.

[motoman]

I'm game. Does anyone have some containers? I could probably get some from work or my mother may have some at her house.

[motoman]

I'm not sure really, I got frustrated with the water testing and gave up. I'll try it out tonight.

[artw]

come on over and I'll give you a 5 gallon bluewater jug full of Genuine Wildcaught Ottawa Tap Water

Before offgassing - PH 9.2 KH 1 GH 1.9
After PH 7.6 KH 1 GH 1.9

(1.9 was from David's treatment results,  and KH 1 was me putting 1 drop in the test kit and getting yellow right away)

[motoman]

WOW! I actually went a bought some jugs last night on my way home since they were right there and changed about 60 -70% of my water for RO H2O. I'm now getting readings: PH 7.6 and GH of 1 (turns blue with the first drop) KH 90 instead of KH 220 (which is what it was out of the tap). So it's better but I'm definitely interested in getting some water. I'm going to be in town after work on Friday so maybe we can set something up. What part of town do you live in? Thanks.

[artw]

Centretown, on Fisher
if you are in the neighborhood give me a call for directions (715 9530)
Bring as many pails etc as you want.

[motoman]

Ok, thanks, I'll toss my jugs in the car tonight and if I'm going that way I'll give you a call.

Motoman

[motoman]

My water stats: Out of the tap (by-passing the softener) and using my Hagen test kit.

PH: 7.2
GH: 120 (6 drops x 20)
KH: 190 (19 drops x 10)

[artw]

Man.
Bring me some water dude! thats PERFECT for Malawis.
I think Lake Malawi is exactly that but with a higher PH (around 7.8 - 8.0)

[motoman]

Will you be home on Monday evening? I can fill a jug and we can just swap if you have one? I've got two 5 gallon blue jugs.

[manytanks]

Something that you might try that I've been doing successfully all winter to lower both my pH and KH is using snowmelt for my water changes. Despite living in the country and being on (sulphurous) wellwater, using clean snow has solved both problems quite nicely. I'm planning to switch to rainwater as soon as the snow becomes unavailable.

//Manytanks

[dpatte]

good point. it would be interesting to do a chemical analysis of Ottawa rainwater. im willing to test
pH
gH
kH
ammonia
nitrite
nitrate
iron
phosphate
calcium
chlorine
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what other tests could people perform on our rainwater?