slowcountry
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2009
- Messages
- 33
- Reaction score
- 0
I have well water at my location. When I test the pH out of the tap, it is right at 7.0. I have a 5 gallon water bottle I fill and leave set with an air stone in it for water changes or top offs, the pH levels out at about 8.3. I assume that this is due to CO2 trapped in the water and escaping over a couple of days.
Now, I know this pH is high for a community tank with live bearers, Neon Tetras and Anglefish. I expect that I should shoot for a pH of 7.0 as all these fish have a different suggested requirement for pH.
Do different salts used in water softners have a bearing on the pH? I currently use the salt with the additive for Iron removal as the water has quite a bit of iron in it.
Using the API GH and KH test kit, the water leaving the softner has a GH of 71.6 to 125.3 and a KH of 161. This will change due to the amount of water run before the softner recycles. If I bypass the softner and test the water, the GH and KH are off the chart given by API.
I understand the hardness issue and I understand its buffering ability. I do not attempt to modify the hardness and I understand that to modify the pH with the current burrering ability will be difficult. I had tried the peatmoss trick in a 5 gal bucket and had very little effect on the pH. If the salt is of issue, I can very easily cange to a different type of softner salt or go to the Potassium if that would make an impact.
I would appreciate any thoughts on the idea. In addition, other than water for breading purposes, how much of an impact will water with a pH of 8.3 have on the livestock over a pH of 7.0?
Now, I know this pH is high for a community tank with live bearers, Neon Tetras and Anglefish. I expect that I should shoot for a pH of 7.0 as all these fish have a different suggested requirement for pH.
Do different salts used in water softners have a bearing on the pH? I currently use the salt with the additive for Iron removal as the water has quite a bit of iron in it.
Using the API GH and KH test kit, the water leaving the softner has a GH of 71.6 to 125.3 and a KH of 161. This will change due to the amount of water run before the softner recycles. If I bypass the softner and test the water, the GH and KH are off the chart given by API.
I understand the hardness issue and I understand its buffering ability. I do not attempt to modify the hardness and I understand that to modify the pH with the current burrering ability will be difficult. I had tried the peatmoss trick in a 5 gal bucket and had very little effect on the pH. If the salt is of issue, I can very easily cange to a different type of softner salt or go to the Potassium if that would make an impact.
I would appreciate any thoughts on the idea. In addition, other than water for breading purposes, how much of an impact will water with a pH of 8.3 have on the livestock over a pH of 7.0?