Water Softener

[malfunction]

So, I've recently moved house and the new place has a water softener plumbed in. Does anyone run a set up using softened water? I was wondering if it there'd be any ill-effects on my fish if I used pure softened water, or if it's best to mix it with the regular London hard water that my fish have grown used to.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

It depends on how it works. Many exchange calcium and magnesium ions for sodium ions and often we don't want these in fw tanks. It is more desirable to take your tank water from before the water softener and if you then need to soften it, do so using a mix of ro (or ro/DI) water and the pre-softener water. However, there is a form of saltless water softener which is primarily use for preventing the buildup of scale in the plumbing. Such systems do not change the hardness they just change the form of things to one that cannot adhere to surfaces. There are more methods which you read here http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_softening
 
The odds are you have a resin exchange system, ut lets be sure. So your first step for getting a proper answer to your question is for you to find out how your specific system works and to let us know. At the same time, let us know what sorts of fish you are planning to keep as this is a factor in the answer to your question.

 

[malfunction]

Thanks for the info.

I'm pretty sure it's not a resin based system as there's no rechargeable beads/substrate involved. It's a device that's plumbed into the mains, requiring periodic the addition of salt tablets like these:

http/www.wickes.co.uk/Hydrosoft-Salt-Tablet-25kg/p/221263

I keep a lot of fish including Geophagus, rainbowfish, Satanoperca, CA cichlids, tetras, barbs and a frontosa. I'm most concerned about the geos, as they have a reputation for being more sensitive than the others.

 

[Byron]

Thanks for the info.

I'm pretty sure it's not a resin based system as there's no rechargeable beads/substrate involved. It's a device that's plumbed into the mains, requiring periodic the addition of salt tablets like these:

http/www.wickes.co.uk/Hydrosoft-Salt-Tablet-25kg/p/221263

I keep a lot of fish including Geophagus, rainbowfish, Satanoperca, CA cichlids, tetras, barbs and a frontosa. I'm most concerned about the geos, as they have a reputation for being more sensitive than the others.

 
The linked site uses the3 word "salt" without elaborating.  Does it tell on the package, e.g., it might say "sodium chloride" which is true salt and something you do not want to be using as TTA expertly mentioned.

 

[malfunction]

Ok, seems I was wrong - it is a resin-based system after all. The salt is used to regenerate the filter.

Thanks for the info.
I'm pretty sure it's not a resin based system as there's no rechargeable beads/substrate involved. It's a device that's plumbed into the mains, requiring periodic the addition of salt tablets like these:http/www.wickes.co.uk/Hydrosoft-Salt-Tablet-25kg/p/221263
I keep a lot of fish including Geophagus, rainbowfish, Satanoperca, CA cichlids, tetras, barbs and a frontosa. I'm most concerned about the geos, as they have a reputation for being more sensitive than the others.

 
The linked site uses the3 word "salt" without elaborating.  Does it tell on the package, e.g., it might say "sodium chloride" which is true salt and something you do not want to be using as TTA expertly mentioned.

Strangely, the salt packet doesn't mention the ingredients at all. I did find the list here though:

http/www.watersoftenersaltuk.co.uk/pages/hydrosoft-water-softener-tablet-salt-information-sheet.php

I'm guessing that small quantities of these chemicals are present in drinking water anyway, but any thoughts on whether these quantities will impact my fish?

 

[Byron]

The really bad substances in that list are what we term heavy metals, and most water conditioners will deal with this at water changes.