Water softener & Cichlids

[ksskumar]

Currently , I have set-up my 72G cichllid tank filled with soft water (from my water softener).

Before I installed the water softener, the water I had in my area (Barker Cypress & 290) was very hard. I used to run my goldfish tank that deposited too much salt. I assume that is due to the water being hard?

The question I have is , should I add hard water to my cichlid tank slowly. My starwberry Peococks got discolored after I introduced them into this tank. Is this releted to the water? in general is soft water ok for my cichlids (yellow lab, Parrot + Bala sharks,Giant Guaramis)

Experts - please share your thoughts. Your information is much appreciated.

[Sea-agg09]

African cichlids come from hard water, which is perfect right from the tap. Guaramis, balas, all come from relatively soft water. With that said, the later 3 all are very adaptable. Slowly introducing harder water will probably make your peacocks happy.

What temp are you running the tank at?

As for color loss, I know there are some great color enhancing food out there. I know Dianichi makes a color enhancing pellet.

[ksskumar]

Thanks!!

[tbui1178]

When I was keeping tropheus, I had issues with bloat because the water I was using from my tap was connected to my home water softner. Ever since I bypassed my watersoftner to refill my tanks, the fish were alot happier and I stopped losing fish. Was an expensive lesson for me to learn.

When I had regular African cichlids and used soft water, they didn't seem to mind much - but they are hardier fish... in general.

[nacra99]

What kind of water softener are you using?
If you are using the salt exchange kind (i.e bags of salt), then that's not too good for many types of fish.

All salt based softeners do is swap ions out of the water. They exchange Ca++ with Na+.
The removal of calcium makes it easier for the water to form suds... perfect for nice bubble baths, but the increased Sodium is usually unknowingly elevated to a concentration that many freshwater fish find uncomfortable. They'll live in it, but the difference in osmotic pressure adds additional stress to the fish.

IMHO, for aquarium purposes, the best way to reduce hardness is to mix RO or distilled water to your tap water. That way it reduces hardness while not increasing sodium.