[Kidfish]

Question would an under counter sink water softener help lower the gh coming out of the tap water

 

[Johntheskier]

Yes a water softener will lower the Gh but softeners that use salt usually add salt to the water. I have herd many different opinions on this question not sure what is right. My softener lowers the Gh to zero according to an API GH test.

 

[Goodwood]

In a nutshell, Water softeners exchange calcium and magnesium for sodium. A reverse osmosis filter will remove almost all impurities and minerals.

GH is a combined measurement of calcium and magnesium and most aquariums will require some general hardness. I would not reccomend using "softened" water for any aquarium, mostly due to the ammount of sodium that is exchanged.

 

[Kidfish]

Yes a water softener will lower the Gh but softeners that use salt usually add salt to the water. I have herd many different opinions on this question not sure what is right. My softener lowers the Gh to zero according to an API GH test.

Yea I know so much conflicting info out there

 

[Johntheskier]

I have a water softener but did not want to use that on my tanks . Instead I have an RO unit that I connected to the main water line before the softener. That's what I use in my tanks after remineralization.

And yeah there is a ton of wrong information out there too.
RO is a good way to go. The KH and GH of my tap water fluctuates a lot.

 

[Qwedfg]

If you have a water softener you can get an ro system pretty cheap and it will last a long time and produce very good water. I live on a well and have a water softener and run an ro system (no di). My water comes out of the ro with a tds of 2 and because you remove all the sediment and calcium/magnesium before getting to the sediment filters or ro membrane they will last a lot longer.

I have a water softener but did not want to use that on my tanks . Instead I have an RO unit that I connected to the main water line before the softener. That's what I use in my tanks after remineralization.

And yeah there is a ton of wrong information out there too.
RO is a good way to go. The KH and GH of my tap water fluctuates a lot.

you should try putting your ro system after your water softener it will increase the life of your ro membrane considerably since it removes scaling minerals.

 

[rzn7z7]

I have a water softener but did not want to use that on my tanks . Instead I have an RO unit that I connected to the main water line before the softener. That's what I use in my tanks after remineralization.

You should place the RO unit after the softener....let the softener do the 'heavy lifting' of removing Ca, Mg, and other elements...it'll substantially lower the TDS before your water enters the RO unit and extend the life of your RO membranes

In a nutshell, Water softeners exchange calcium and magnesium for sodium. A reverse osmosis filter will remove almost all impurities and minerals.

Hmmm....I believe it's the resin beads that pull Ca, Mg, and other elements out of your household water....the beads are typically enclosed in a large cylinder...when 'full' the resin beads are washed in a brine bath (consisting of NaCl but could be KCl)...the cleansing cycle typically runs in the early AM hours when water usage is nil...some sodium may be left behind during the cleansing cycle if the brine bath isn't completely flushed away but that doesn't mean the softener is exchanging sodium for Ca, Mg, etc.....at least that's how I understand softeners to work

 

[somewhatshocked]

Yea I know so much conflicting info out there

In this case, the conflicting information you see when it comes to sodium in a freshwater aquarium is usually from someone who isn't well-versed in what freshwater systems need. It's generally a bad idea to use sodium if you're running a freshwater system. A bad idea, in general, for tanking.

Other softeners use potassium salts to exchange hardness, which can also cause a ton of potential problems in a planted tank.

What's your gH, @Kidfish? You likely don't need to lower it. What's your kH?

 

[Kidfish]

In this case, the conflicting information you see when it comes to sodium in a freshwater aquarium is usually from someone who isn't well-versed in what freshwater systems need. It's generally a bad idea to use sodium if you're running a freshwater system. A bad idea, in general, for tanking.

Other softeners use potassium salts to exchange hardness, which can also cause a ton of potential problems in a planted tank.

What's your gH, @Kidfish? You likely don't need to lower it. What's your kH?

Kh 3 gh 11
I am setting up a 29 G for Apisto Borelli so I am concerned about those numbers

 

[somewhatshocked]

Kh 3 gh 11
I am setting up a 29 G for Apisto Borelli so I am concerned about those numbers

You could certainly go the RODI and remineralization route to have total control over your parameters. But it may not be necessary. Are you a new hobbyist or do you have some experience under your belt with a plan to be part of the hobby longterm? If not, you may not want an RODI system.

An active/buffering substrate like ADA Aqua Soil could be helpful for you. It would lower kH quite a bit, thereby making your water more acidic/softer. A gH of 11 probably isn't too much of an issue with most commercially-bred specimens in the hobby. But a basic, affordable water filter may be able to lower both kH and gH a bit for you.

Have you checked out tank journals of others who keep Apistogramma borellii to see what kind of parameter ranges others are using?

Alternatively, if you're new to the hobby, have you considered other species that would be better suited for your existing parameters? That would make life a lot simpler than having to parameter chase or invest in a couple hundred dollars in an RO system. There are absolutely tons of fish and invertebrates that would thrive with a kH of 3 and gH of 11.

 

[Kidfish]

You could certainly go the RODI and remineralization route to have total control over your parameters. But it may not be necessary. Are you a new hobbyist or do you have some experience under your belt with a plan to be part of the hobby longterm? If not, you may not want an RODI system.

An active/buffering substrate like ADA Aqua Soil could be helpful for you. It would lower kH quite a bit, thereby making your water more acidic/softer. A gH of 11 probably isn't too much of an issue with most commercially-bred specimens in the hobby. But a basic, affordable water filter may be able to lower both kH and gH a bit for you.

Have you checked out tank journals of others who keep Apistogramma borellii to see what kind of parameter ranges others are using?

Alternatively, if you're new to the hobby, have you considered other species that would be better suited for your existing parameters? That would make life a lot simpler than having to parameter chase or invest in a couple hundred dollars in an RO system. There are absolutely tons of fish and invertebrates that would thrive with a kH of 3 and gH of 11.

A lot of valuable info will respond further when not at work thanks

A lot of valuable info will respond further when not at work thanks

I am kinda a step up from beginner. I have a 75 gallon nano tank moderately planted and nice aquascaping with about 12 different species of fish with dwarf crayfish and shrimp all doing well for about 6 months. But I love those apistogramma and would like to give it a shot. I work 6 days 12 hour days so looking for the easiest and least cost effective way to work those numbers, I was thinking since Apisto Borelli is supposed to be the easiest and most hardiest l would go with them. I am not sure if the tannins from all the driftwood plus maybe almond leaves could cut it if not l was thinking a faucet filter could help.