I have a 28 gallon freshwater tropical aquarium and I need help to soften the water!!?

Question

Every time I do a water change I use reverse osmosis distilled water which tests soft (nice and green on the test strip) on its own, then I test my aquarium water and its hard as a rock! Well, just about the darkest brown there could be on the test strip.

My tank is not overcrowded, everything else tests perfect; the pH, alkalinity, etc. The ammonia spikes every once in awhile due to the fact that I had to restart my biological filter after dismantling and moving my tank a few weeks ago. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, HELP!

Thanks for all the helpful answers so far, and to talisy77 this is now a clown loach only coffee table, the cichlids have moved and are doing well!

Answer 1

Use duckweed. This pest plant drains some forms of water hardness. Increasing the temp. will also evaporate some of the minerals in your hardness too. I few other aquatic plants will also naturally remove hardness.
Other then that you'll probably be condemned to doing frequent water changes and replacing it with RO water.

Answer 2

run the water through a canister filter or filter bag in your hang on containing peat. It will give the water a slight tea color but it simulates the soft tea colored water of the Amazon. If you started the tank with reverse osmosis water and use the same it should not harden up like that. The hardness of the water is from minerals and such. Something in your tank may be causing a false reading I would say. I have heard straight RO water itself can give false readings. If your fish are doing ok I would not worry about it unless you are breeding Discus or something else which needs soft water to stimulate breeding. Most fish including baby Discus do better in a slightly harder water. Your alkalinity also has alot to do with your general hardness. The type of gravel you are using also could be a cause. Dolimite,crushed coral and certain limestone mixes and rocks actually raise the hardness quite alot. I use saltwater crushed coral gravel in my African Cichlid tanks to raise it up rather nicely.

Answer 3

Yes, Stress Coat is good, but it doesn't help with the alkalinity of the water. There's different products that are made to help with the pH of the water, whether you want to raise or lower it. I do *not* reccommend using a product called Correct pH, made by Jungle. It doesn't help.

Answer 4

a million. tanks take 6 weeks to cycle, fish further during the cycle many times die 2. dechlorinator works just about promptly, it is ultimate in case you upload it to the bucket of latest faucet water before pouring it interior the tank 3. matching temperature is only as significant, use one finger to benefit the bucket and the tank. fairly, your finger can tell a temp distinction of a pair ranges and that's precise adequate. employing water it is too chilly or warm will marvel the fish, and in specific situations reason illnesses like ich.

Answer 5

I also use a Stress coat. It works very well and you should get some. It actually helps the fish a lot because it puts a protective coat of some kind of slime around them. This prevents disease and heals the fish.

Answer 6

well i use a product called *stress coat* it has aloe vera plus water conditioners so you can use it as many times as you need without worryin about harming your fish... i have a 20 gallon fresh water tank and i have never checked the ph and i have only had 2 die on me but that was because my heater broke and deep fried them... and stress coat is all i use... so good luck and no worries!!

Answer 7

IS this your african cichlid tank? the water should be hard for them . hit me up on my 360 and let me know if this is a differant tank and what kinda fish they are and ill give you a solution for the problem. :)

Answer 8

fish prefer to be in the wild, don't get anymore fish after this, tropical fish are taken from the wild from around the world causing a degraded ecosystem too