Can I use my water ?

[mark.lambert5]

Hi All
coming back to aquarium ownership after visiting Dave at Aquarium Gardens in Huntington and watching/reading many videos articles.
Not a total newbie ! But things are more developed now .
Past History
Basic mixed fish tanks, moving through to Oscars only that breed, mixed Chichlid tanks and lastly a few marine tanks.
having purchased my wife a terrarium for Xmas we are now at a place about to commit to a 90 x 45 x45 scrapers tank , co2 good lighting etc.
What I’m unsure about is our water quality we are on a bore hole and the water goes through carbon filters iron removal media (as it’s high) and uv and a softener
I do have access to outside taps that only have the carbon and iron removal .
what I’d like guidance for am I right in thinking the softened water will be bad for the aquarium , but will the outside tap water be ok .
ill add the laboratory water test results from last year for reference.
thank you to anyone who can help in advance
kindest Mark

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Welcome to UKAPS.

The simple answer is that you can use your outside tap water.

It <"limits the plants you can grow"> (and fish you can keep), but a <"lot of members"> have <"fantastic tanks with hard water"> and it does open the possibility of keeping <"Tanganyikan cichlids">, fancy snails etc.

What I’m unsure about is our water quality we are on a bore hole and the water goes through carbon filters iron removal media (as it’s high) and uv and a softener
I do have access to outside taps that only have the carbon and iron removal .

I live in the Cotswolds, (Corsham, Wilts) and have very similar tap water to you (from a deep limestone aquifer) and a <"water softened supply for the house">.

You are right, you can't use the softened water, the ion exchange unit swaps <"two sodium ion (Na+) for each calcium ion (Ca++)"> which is why you have 190 mg / L (ppm) sodium. It is strong acid ion exchange, so you still have the same amount of alkalinity (dKH, HCO3- ions) but, rather <"than as insoluble CaCO3">, you have soluble sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and no scale on showers etc.

Would rain-water collection be an option for you?

cheers Darrel

 

[mark.lambert5]

Hi Darrel
thank you for your swift and informative reply .
Thought that might be the case ,
Rainwater is difficult , I used to get Ro from my local Maidenhead Aquatics could I use that ? Would I need to add minerals etc.
Failing that off to a family member to fill from there mains supply !
cheers Mark

 

[mark.lambert5]

So something like Seachem Equilibrium to bring up dkh to around 5-6?
and something like Seachem Flourish to give trace elements /nutrients for the plants .
what a pain but achievable?

 

[hypnogogia]

Not ideal… see this thread:

Seachem equilibrium to high potassium

Just a quick question, I started using RO/DI water for aquarium, and using seachem equilibrium for raising GH. It ads quite a lot of potassium. To reach 5GH it is adding 65ppm of K. Plus from fertilizers it is around 70ppm. Is this good for plants?

www.ukaps.org

You’re better off mixing RO with tap, or buying the salts needed to remineralise. I use magnesium sulfate and calcium sulfate for GH, and a little potassium bicarbonate for 0.5 dKH.

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

Can you collect rainwater? I have a couple of 210L water butts, one of which is used exclusively for use in my two Nano’s. I mix it with tap water when needed.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I used to get Ro from my local Maidenhead Aquatics

Yes, but you could try <"SpotlessWater"> (two options in Gloucester - GL2 5EA or GL1 5SG), a few members use them and <"they are cheap">.

So something like Seachem Equilibrium to bring up dkh to around 5-6?

Not ideal… see this thread:

Seachem equilibrium to high potassium

Just a quick question, I started using RO/DI water for aquarium, and using seachem equilibrium for raising GH. It ads quite a lot of potassium. To reach 5GH it is adding 65ppm of K. Plus from fertilizers it is around 70ppm. Is this good for plants?

www.ukaps.org

You’re better off mixing RO with tap, or buying the salts needed to remineralise. I use magnesium sulfate and calcium sulfate for GH, and a little potassium bicarbonate for 0.5 dKH.

What @hypnogogia (and links say), you can remineralise your water with <"a splash of tap water">, it supplies 1 :1 dGH : dKH. and you only need a minimal <"amount of alkalinity"> (also referred to as carbonate hardness or dKH).

<"Unscrupulous vendors"> will tell you you need to <"add dKH to stabilise pH"> and that <"remineralisers"> and "fertilisers" are different products, and you can't equate the magnesium ions (Mg++) from your remineraliser with the Mg++ ions from your fertiliser, <"but they lie">.

and something like Seachem Flourish to give trace elements /nutrients for the plants .

You will need a <"complete fertiliser">. Some people will dose regularly, others will use a "just in time" philosophy. Have a look at <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?"> it is a long read, but worth it (I may not be an entirely unbiased commentator).

In terms of fertiliser, some of us have been using <"Solufeed"> - <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">, although there are (more expensive) complete <"aquarium fertilisers available">.

There aren't really <"Aquarium fertilisers">, these are just fertilisers with the magic word <"Aquarium"> added, but if you did want to buy an Aquarium one? Then there are options that work, the problem is <"just the cost">. If I was going down this route <"TNC Complete?">

cheers Darrel