Help with stocking

[Naughts]

These tests indicate soft water which is very different from the previous data. Is there a water softener installed?

 

[Byron]

I agree, you need to pin this down. The KH is also very low, it was my understanding that softeners do not affect KH (Alkalinity), just GH. And the pH is on the acidic side. These numbers are very good if they are correct. But the softener may be an issue, How does it work?

 

[Essjay]

Can I suggest you enter your address here

Hard water | Uisce Eireann

Hard water is a natural characteristic of much of Ireland's drinking water supply, and it is safe to drink. Search for the water hardness results in your area.

www.water.ie

and tell us the number for "current mg/l of CaCO3 in your water"

Picking an address at random in Midleton, Co Cork, that has very soft water. if yours is similar, see if you can cancel the order for the RO equipment as you won't need it.


The website you used (celticwatersolutions.ie) sells water softeners. It won't be able to tell you the real number for hardness - and it want to sell things.

 

[rebe]

Hello!
The tests on my most recent post with pictures are the only tests I've conducted myself. Before I mentioned a 279 ppm result, this was not from any test that I personally conducted. It was the only result regarding water hardness that I could find online about the area I live in.
It's from a website, that actually sells RO machines and stuff for household use, so I don't think it's a very reliable source. That data was also based on the entire county which is 187km² (70-something miles I think). There was no data on the official government website. That would have been a more reliable source.

(279 ppm according to celticwatersolutions.ie)

The results in the images of water tests that I posted, are from the tap water in my house. I can do another test with the same test strips and liquid test but I'm not sure if that would be helpful. Is there anything else I can/should do?

 

[Essjay]

Try using the site in the link in my last post for water.ie in post #18. That wants your actual address not a region like the celticwatersolutions site. I would never trust a water softener seller as they'll make it sound harder than it really is to make you buy something from them.



Do you have a water softener for your tap water? If you don't, your tests strips tally with the hardness of the address in Midleton on water.ie and the strips are correct not celticwatersolutions.

 

[rebe]

Can I suggest you enter your address here

Hard water | Uisce Eireann

Hard water is a natural characteristic of much of Ireland's drinking water supply, and it is safe to drink. Search for the water hardness results in your area.

www.water.ie

and tell us the number for "current mg/l of CaCO3 in your water"

Picking an address at random in Midleton, Co Cork, that has very soft water. if yours is similar, see if you can cancel the order for the RO equipment as you won't need it.


The website you used (celticwatersolutions.ie) sells water softeners. It won't be able to tell you the real number for hardness - and it want to sell things.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I did try that website before I found the Celtic water solutions website. Unfortunately I don't live in a big city so there isn't any data for my area. I live in West Cork, in Courtmacsherry.
I agree with you, that the results from the Celticwatersolutions.ie, aren't reliable. I did perform my own water tests since, if you have a look at the post with images of the water tests

 

[rebe]

Try using the site in the link in my last post for water.ie in post #18. That wants your actual address not a region like the celticwatersolutions site. I would never trust a water softener seller as they'll make it sound harder than it really is to make you buy something from them.



Do you have a water softener for your tap water? If you don't, your tests strips tally with the hardness of the address in Midleton on water.ie and the strips are correct not celticwatersolutions.

Sorry I just replied to a response of yours that wasn't the most recent. The two main towns near me are Clonakilty and Bandon, and I am getting results from those. However I can't find where it lists the actual hardness. I can only find the percentage that shows how much they are complying with regulations.

 

[Essjay]

I usually look for postcodes of high street banks and use that to find hardness. So I looked for a bank in your two towns and found "Bank of Ireland, 38 Pearse Street, Clonakilty, Co Cork, P85 NY32".
Entering that postcode in water.ie I get 76 mg/l CaCO3, which is the same as 76 ppm which converts to 4.6 dH (the same unit of measurement as your strip).

Bandon's Bank of Ireland postcode gives 62 ppm/3.5 dH.


It looks as though you already have soft water and your strips are giving a true reading. If you can cancel or send back that RO unit, I would. You don't need it.

 

[rebe]

I usually look for postcodes of high street banks and use that to find hardness. So I looked for a bank in your two towns and found "Bank of Ireland, 38 Pearse Street, Clonakilty, Co Cork, P85 NY32".
Entering that postcode in water.ie I get 76 mg/l CaCO3, which is the same as 76 ppm which converts to 4.6 dH (the same unit of measurement as your strip).

Bandon's Bank of Ireland postcode gives 62 ppm/3.5 dH.


It looks as though you already have soft water and your strips are giving a true reading. If you can cancel or send back that RO unit, I would. You don't need it.

Wow thank you so much for going to all that effort for me, it's greatly appreciated!! I'm so happy that I found this website/forums, everybody has been so helpful and kind! When I'm finished setting up my tank and start cycling it I'll make a new thread for fish related stuff maybe. Now I know which information is necessary to let you guys offer help. Thank you!