tommy_vercetti
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2010
- Messages
- 11
Hi,
I have a couple of questions regarding water hardness. We have well water which is very hard (400 TDS.) I don't use an RO filter for my makeup water--instead I try to choose fish which can tolerate hardwater. We have a water softener for the house, but I use water which has not passed through the softener for my aquariums.
1. I am concerned about "runaway" water hardness over time caused by evaporation. If I never use water with a lower TDS for water changes and evaporation top-off, won't my TDS slowly rise over time? I do frequent large water changes on my system, which dilute the nutrients and dissolved mineral buildup; but since there will always be evaporation then slowly I will see an increase in TDS, right? Is there anyway to counteract this? Maybe doing an occasional 90% water change will bring the TDS back down to near 400. So far I haven't seen this increase in TDS, but I am thinking about the future. I've only been up and running at the new house for a month.
2. Many aquarists recommend adding salt to their aquariums for disease control. Water softeners replace minerals with salt. With this being said, can I use water which has been through my softener in my system? I've heard that I shouldn't do this but never knew the reason. I guess you would have a buildup of salt over time, is that it?
I have a couple of questions regarding water hardness. We have well water which is very hard (400 TDS.) I don't use an RO filter for my makeup water--instead I try to choose fish which can tolerate hardwater. We have a water softener for the house, but I use water which has not passed through the softener for my aquariums.
1. I am concerned about "runaway" water hardness over time caused by evaporation. If I never use water with a lower TDS for water changes and evaporation top-off, won't my TDS slowly rise over time? I do frequent large water changes on my system, which dilute the nutrients and dissolved mineral buildup; but since there will always be evaporation then slowly I will see an increase in TDS, right? Is there anyway to counteract this? Maybe doing an occasional 90% water change will bring the TDS back down to near 400. So far I haven't seen this increase in TDS, but I am thinking about the future. I've only been up and running at the new house for a month.
2. Many aquarists recommend adding salt to their aquariums for disease control. Water softeners replace minerals with salt. With this being said, can I use water which has been through my softener in my system? I've heard that I shouldn't do this but never knew the reason. I guess you would have a buildup of salt over time, is that it?