GH and KH questions

[MDcrinos]

I was wanting a general opinion on water parameters. We've moved recently and I'm slowly getting the tanks back up. The forty long is up and running fine, cycled, and fish seem happy and healthy.

The new house has a whole house water filter system, (to remove iron). It dawned on me to check my parameters.

GH 2-3
KH 7
PH 8

I realize Cichlids are out of the question ;). The tetras and loaches seem to be doing well though.

Does anyone see any issues I need to take into consideration before begining to cycle and stock the 2 55's ?

Going non filtered is not an option, (the tank develops an orange slimy gunk and stains on the glass that you can't keep off!). Bringing in water would be a major undertanking to change water in a 40, two 55s, and maybe the 110 if the deal goes through.

[liv2padl]

i have a well and a 'whole house' water softener. i simply bipass it when doing water changes. i've rarely seen one of these softener systems that didn't have a bipass ... did you check? also, cichlids are not out of the question at all. you can elevate your gH, kH and ph by simply adding some crushed coral to your filter or setting up a cannister filter dedicated to this function.

[MDcrinos]

i've rarely seen one of these softener systems that didn't have a bipass ... did you check?

Yep, it's got a bypass, but if I use the bypass it turns the tank walls a lovely pumpkin orange. Seriously it's dark and think enough with iron that you can't see in after a while.

I'm not really concerned with cichlids, or lack there of. I was wondering if I should do some adjusting for "normal" tank conditions, snails, and shrimp. That gh seems pretty low.