Chemistry Question RE: Salt/ Mollies

[trumpteezer]

Stop me immediately if any of the following is incorrect: I'm learning Aquarium Chemistry 101 here:

- Hard water has a high PH
- Adding salt softens water, therefore, lower PH numbers
- Mollies prefer hard water/ high ph

So how was it ever concluded that they need salt, when in fact salt will change their PH?

Please if I'm way off base on my conclusions regarding PH/hardness- PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much,

Trumpy

 

[Sully]

adding salt really does not soften water. The ion exchange rate is a 2:1 ratio. In effect raising the Total Dissolved solids. (Ca++:Na+) or (Mg++:Na+)

Think Marine salt and alinity not ph and "table" salt. Then you will be getting a better handle on what the appropriate steps should be and why the answer is what it is,

 

[Slappy*McFish]

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Hard water has a high PH

Not neccessarily, but more than likely it will. Carbonate hardness affects pH...General Hardness does not.
-

Adding salt softens water, therefore, lower PH numbers

Absolutely not. Salt(sodium chloride) does neither. All it does is raise salinity.
-

Mollies prefer hard water/ high ph

They do very well in hard/alkaline water. Salt isn't a neccessity, however. Though, sometimes in the the wild mollies can be found in brackish to even marine conditions. They'll do just fine in a neutral pH and slightly hard water.
Personally, I'd prefer to keep them in a pH range between 7-8, with a general hardness of 10-15+ dh.