How to raise water hardness?

[Sinuhe]

(I posted this at another forum recently, but haven't gotten any replies, so I decided to give it a try if someone around here could help)

I'm planning to start a freshwater tank (somewhere around 160 liters/ 40 gallons), for mainly live bearers (platy). I found out some information about the tap water quality in my town, and the pH seems ideal, 7,9, but the total hardness is very low, about 2 dH. My question is, what would be the best way of raising the hardness level to at least moderate without messing up the pH level? I've read that you shouldn't pay too much attention to water hardness when just starting out, but I've had a tank some years ago, and have a decent level of experience already. However, I've never quite figured out how to alter the water quality and make it stable, too. I'd like to provide the best possible environment for my fish. The last time I got frustrated with the problems I ran into after starting out with less than ideal conditions.

 

[demon_surfer]

you could add some crushed coral to the tank, either mixed with your gravel or in a bag in your filter.

you can get it easily from most fish store. Avoid using a PH raising chemical because they are unstable.

 

[JSchmidt]

Epsom salts are often used to raise GH. You'd have to experiment to see how much is needed to raise GH to the point you desire. Crushed coral, placed in a nylon stocking and put in the filter, will slowly dissolve and raise KH. A tablespoon should be enough.

Remember that water for water changes will require modification. too.

HTH,

Jim

 

[Sinuhe]

Thank you, Jim and demon surfer . What are your opinions on using calsium or sodium carbonate? And is it important to have the recommended total hardness level for fish like platy if there is enough buffer? (for example, adding sodium bicarbonate instead of calsium carbonate)

 

[demon_surfer]

if aclimated properly just about any fish you are likely to buy will be able to live in the water you already have. They may not be able to successfully breed but they should be qute comfortable to live.

what the hardness basically is, is a buffer to stop the ph of the tank from swinging around rapindly. you can find an excellent description of the process here = www.skepticalaquarist.com

The only fish i know of that need harder water are the african rift lake cichlids. most other fish seem to have a neutral ph. but again you should be able to acclimate whatever you want to your water. IF you do it right!.

 

[Sinuhe]

Yeah, I figured the fish would probably get used to the soft water. I'm mostly worried about the lacking buffer in the water, I don't want the pH to go up and down all the time.

 

[JSchmidt]

If buffering is your primary concern, go with the crushed coral in a filter bag. It will buffer the water sufficiently to avoid pH crash.

You should test KH regularly after adding the crushed coral. If it starts to go above the value you seek, take a bit out. If KH plateaus before you reach the desired value of KH, add a bit more. The changes will happen fairly slowly (over days, not hours) so you have time to adjust.

Good luck,
Jim

 

[Harry Tolen]

Buffering with a bit (1 tbsp) of crushed coral as JSchmidt recommended should get you where you want to be. Instead of checking GH, however, you should start checking KH, as that directly represents the buffering capacity that you are trying to affect.

 

[Sinuhe]

Thank you, I will have to try that

Edit: Oh, I haven't checked the GH myself yet (don't have the tank or any tests yet, either), but the info was based on a table posted online by the local water treatment plant. And I've found out that soft water is a common problem for Finnish aquarists in general.