Water Softener Question

[cheizy]

Is water treated with a water softener OK for fw fish? my family just got a new one for the home..was just wondering. If not I can use the hose out in the garden(unsoftend), more hassle but a sacrifice willing to make lol. Thanks!

[elks]

For most fish water from a softener will be fine. I raise angels, discus,BN cats in my water that is through a softener. Only breeder tanks are different as they get RO water.

[OldMan1947]

A water softener replaces the calcium and magnesium salts in your city water with sodium salts. If you are a plant person, the calcium and magnesium that make up hard water deposits are things your plants used. The sodium is hard on plants and if you look around you will find people do not recommend watering house plants with water softener water.
I'm not sure most fish will know the difference but the key here is I'm not sure. I am sure that fish that like soft water will not find your new water any softer than the old. When people say they like soft water they mean water that is low in solids. Water softener water just has different solids, it is not low in solids.
The calcium carbonate that you are intentionally getting rid of with a softener is the primary pH buffer in your tap water. By removing it, you may find your pH will move up and down more easily which would be hard on your fish.

[Lil_Stinker]

check the params of each soft & hard, right from the tap.. I find softened water lower in chlorine & copper, thats a good thing (right?).. I have not had a problem with my Culligan..

[legendaryfrog]

well, copper and chlorine are bad....so softened water must be good.

[cheizy]

So water softener water OK for fish, but bad for plants?

[OldMan1947]

Not so fast cheizy. All I read is OK for fish. and yes not good for plants.

[dudley]

I realize this post is almost 2 weeks old but here goes. It depends on what kind of fish you are planning on having.

I have a water softener on my well water supply. I also have african cichlids & am trying planted tanks. I put my softener in bypass when I add water to my tanks & it works great.

The only problem you might have is the water in your hot water tank will probably be softened if you have a regular hot water tank. I replaced mine with a tankless water heater so I don't have that problem.

[jpappy789]

With my water softener the pH stays in the upper 7's-8 range while GH levels are very low...almost too low.

However, specific readings would help determine whether or not it is safe.

If needed alot of the times kitchen sinks are not hooked up to the softener, at least mine isnt...