Water Softner

Matt101905

Matt101905

Love Guru
Feb 11, 2009
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Arkansas
My house has a water softner. We have very hard water filled with lime. Our well is baiscally drilled all the way through limestone. Anyways I have some little plants in my 55gal. They seem to be doing ok and I do see some new growth...do you think the salt from the water softner will hurt the plants in any way? Thanks! I wish the salt would kill algae :silly:
 
It is a common misconception that all water softening is unilaterally detrimental for such setups. The important question to ask is:

Does my softener use Na (sodium) salt OR does it use K (potassium) salt?

Most modern softeners use K salts for a multitude of benefits to the homeowner. K based salts exchange the harder cations (like Ca) for K. This will not adversely effect your plants or your specimens; in fact, K supplementation is part of the core NPK fert schedule required for optimal plant growth. If you use the Na salt, then your water is indeed 'salty' in the traditional sense, and does not provide the best conditions for many plants and specimens.

Check to see if your system can switch over to K salt.
 
I don't have anything to contribute to this topic, but I have heard that plants don't do as well in high ph and high gh water.

Using Potassium Permanganate to clean plants is harmful if in high concentrations, and treating with regular table salt is also detremental to plants. However, I've heard that Epsom salts, could be used as a fertilizer.

Hope this gives you a little more insight.
 
You can try peat.
 
There should be a tap somewhere around the house that is bypassed. If indeed it is Na based water softener you should use bypass water.
 
shawnhu said:
I don't have anything to contribute to this topic, but I have heard that plants don't do as well in high ph and high gh water.

Using Potassium Permanganate to clean plants is harmful if in high concentrations, and treating with regular table salt is also detremental to plants. However, I've heard that Epsom salts, could be used as a fertilizer.

Hope this gives you a little more insight.
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Completely untrue. Plant growth is not largely affected by TDS (or high GH, KH, pH for that matter)...if not, I wouldn't have plants.

Keep in mind that "softened" water comes out higher in TDS than the original water because each Ca or Mg ion is replaced by two K or Na ions.

Check a kitchen sink for a bypass, a common spot in homes.
 
Another reason that the artificially softened water is detrimental, is because you remove some major elements for plant growth, Mg and Ca. Plus fish need those elements too for bone growth, so its not wise to use it for fry or juvenile fish.
 
Riiz said:
Another reason that the artificially softened water is detrimental, is because you remove some major elements for plant growth, Mg and Ca. Plus fish need those elements too for bone growth, so its not wise to use it for fry or juvenile fish.
Click to expand...

True, but they are relatively easy to replace, if needed.

For those of us with granite tap water (foul tasting, high sediment ground water with a GH of 27-30...) not using a water softener for the sake of the home is insane. The lime deposits on fixtures, appliances, etc. simply make it impossible.

You don't necessarily need to explore bypass if you can use K salt. Other challenges can be overcome.
 
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