Well Water

Hreefer89 · 03-23-2008, 03:47 PM

Recently I started a small ten gallon community freshwater tank. The problem is that my home is suppllied by well water which contains a very high pH and is very hard for a freshwater tank. I have been using a pillow softener to try to counteract it but it does not seem to be doing the trick. I need suggestions or a solution. Please help!

sasquatch · 03-23-2008, 05:15 PM

I would suggest peat moss filtering for safely lowering your ph, it on the other hand gives your a great reason for a co2 planted tank lol.

SubRosa · 03-23-2008, 06:31 PM

You can either fight your water or work with it.You can keep Africans,Livebearers,Goldfish,DaniosRainbows and with the addition of a little salt Brackish fish in your water without having to do anything to your water at all.While a 10 G is a little limiting,a very interesting tank could include some shell dwelling Africans and a school of Danios for some interest.There are lots of other possibilities.Softening hard water without an RO/DI or DI system is isn't worth it imo,but I'm old and lazy!You could think about collecting rainwater to dilute your well water with.Acid rain might actually have a benefit for you!

John

Hreefer89 · 03-24-2008, 12:50 AM

[quote=sasquatch;423056]I would suggest peat moss filtering for safely lowering your ph, it on the other hand gives your a great reason for a co2 planted tank lol

What does peat moss filtering involve?

PEMfish · 03-24-2008, 11:18 AM

Peat moss

SubRosa · 03-24-2008, 06:27 PM

One thing to consider.Peat filtered water is noticeably yellow.If you're keeping Cardinal Tetras or Checkerboard Cichlids so be it,but most people prefer clear water.

John

Emg · 03-24-2008, 07:48 PM

I would do as Subrosa suggested and test the parameters.......ph/hard?/soft? etc.....and find out what kinds of fish will do well in that water.

South American cichlids tend to prefer softer water with a lower PH.....african types tend toward the hard/high PH type water. Most fish are pretty forgiving and will adapt to whatever water you have as long as you properly acclimate and keep up with water changes.

I "highly" recommend the shelldweller species.....specifically the meleagris. I had a nice group of those in a 15gallon....they are FASCINATING ! The meleagris and the multifasciatus are a great choice for a 10gallon. The meleagris are less tolerant of each other, so fewer of those...but the multis are all just one big happy family and will breed themselves right out of the tank if you let them. Great source of a bit extra cash now and then if you have an lfs that will buy them from you.

Meleagris/stappersi/15gallon tank

multifasciatus/20long tank

03-23-2008, 03:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hreefer89 Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well Water Recently I started a small ten gallon community freshwater tank. The problem is that my home is suppllied by well water which contains a very high pH and is very hard for a freshwater tank. I have been using a pillow softener to try to counteract it but it does not seem to be doing the trick. I need suggestions or a solution. Please help!

03-23-2008, 05:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,508 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Well Water I would suggest peat moss filtering for safely lowering your ph, it on the other hand gives your a great reason for a co2 planted tank lol. __________________ DIY stuff for my tank stand, 100g tank,rock lift, overflow, foam walls, closed loop,lighting reflectors, 50gal sump, bubbletrap and sock holder, ato bracket,kalk bucket and reservoir, 40gal fuge, fuge lighting, remotish dsb raceway, turf algae raceway, dual pumped recirc skimmer, more to follow. Barb ripped my sig

03-23-2008, 06:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
SubRosa Serpent Star Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 226 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Well Water You can either fight your water or work with it.You can keep Africans,Livebearers,Goldfish,DaniosRainbows and with the addition of a little salt Brackish fish in your water without having to do anything to your water at all.While a 10 G is a little limiting,a very interesting tank could include some shell dwelling Africans and a school of Danios for some interest.There are lots of other possibilities.Softening hard water without an RO/DI or DI system is isn't worth it imo,but I'm old and lazy!You could think about collecting rainwater to dilute your well water with.Acid rain might actually have a benefit for you! John __________________ An aquarium is like a seesaw.On one side is your time and patience.On the other is your money. Last edited by SubRosa : 03-23-2008 at 06:32 PM. Reason: bad typing

03-24-2008, 12:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
Hreefer89 Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Well Water [quote=sasquatch;423056]I would suggest peat moss filtering for safely lowering your ph, it on the other hand gives your a great reason for a co2 planted tank lol What does peat moss filtering involve?

03-24-2008, 11:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
PEMfish Reef Lobster Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kane Co. Il. Posts: 1,634 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Well Water Peat moss __________________ Paul `EM My cichlid tank plans, or Piranhas...; See how it all came to be; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...g-catchup.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ets-ready.html Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. I'll make the whole damn world jealous if given the money to do so. Don't make mistakes and learn from them, read and learn how to avoid mistakes.

03-24-2008, 06:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
SubRosa Serpent Star Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 226 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Well Water One thing to consider.Peat filtered water is noticeably yellow.If you're keeping Cardinal Tetras or Checkerboard Cichlids so be it,but most people prefer clear water. John __________________ An aquarium is like a seesaw.On one side is your time and patience.On the other is your money.

03-24-2008, 07:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
Emg Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT Posts: 296 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Well Water I would do as Subrosa suggested and test the parameters.......ph/hard?/soft? etc.....and find out what kinds of fish will do well in that water. South American cichlids tend to prefer softer water with a lower PH.....african types tend toward the hard/high PH type water. Most fish are pretty forgiving and will adapt to whatever water you have as long as you properly acclimate and keep up with water changes. I "highly" recommend the shelldweller species.....specifically the meleagris. I had a nice group of those in a 15gallon....they are FASCINATING ! The meleagris and the multifasciatus are a great choice for a 10gallon. The meleagris are less tolerant of each other, so fewer of those...but the multis are all just one big happy family and will breed themselves right out of the tank if you let them. Great source of a bit extra cash now and then if you have an lfs that will buy them from you. Meleagris/stappersi/15gallon tank multifasciatus/20long tank __________________ A blog of my fw and sw fish and tanks...along with some other critters I own...... http://emgstanks.blogspot.com/

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