What would you have to do to control the hardness and softness of water in the aquarium?

Question

What would you have to do in order to control the hardness and softness of water in an aquarium?

Answer 1

To increase water hardness add magnesium sulfate (which is plain epsom salt) at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 10gal per day until desired general hardness (GH) is achieved (you'll need a test kit). Magnesium sulfate won't alter your pH (sodium biocarbonate [baking soda] is used to increase pH and KH).

To lower GH, use a water source with a lower GH than your tank water's GH during each water change (i.e., RO/DI water, distilled water...or even tap if its GH is lower than the tank water's).

If your GH is within the range of 3-11dKH (or 54-197ppm) you most likely don't have a need to alter water hardness.

Answer 2

Depends on weather you need to raise it or lower it. Ph down is a waste of money. If you have high numbers in GH & KH, that will just shoot the ph right back up within day's to hours. So if its down you need to go then you might want to consider looking further into the types of fish you want to keep and choose accordingly.

To raise it is just as bad, the ph uppers are basically over priced products that are baking soda .. Sodium Bicarbonate. The toss here is that which part of the PH balance needs to be adjusted, KH, GH or both! There are alternatives besides the spendy chems from the LFS that are cheaper on the pocket book.

Useing bottled distilled or RO waters is not a good idea either,Not for tropicals and Goldfish, remove minerals from the water and you have fish kill/ sick fish and the bio bugs in filters are not gonna be happy either. .

You can find lots of articles on PH,GH & KH in the Best of Forum at Koivet and also at GAB.

Answer 3

To soften hard water, you need to take the mineral out with a water softener, reverse osmosis unit or a specialized chemical that irreversibly binds up the minerals. Another option is to find a source of demoralized water for your fish tank like bottled distilled water.
To increase the hardness of water you need to add marine salt. Increasing the mineral content of your water WILL affect the pH of your tank so it must be done with care, or you can to add a buffer.
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Answer 4

I buy distilled water to fill my aquarium- It has helped keep my aquarium beautiful and crystal clear. I also have an undergravel filter and a separate over the tank filter to make sure that the impurities from feeding and fish waste are kept out of the water.

Answer 5

There are many additives at the pet store that solve this problem.

Salt water is different from freshwater aquariums....

Answer 6

r/o water and distilled is softer water.. they is a water softing pillow u can get from a pet store