Tropical Fish Keeping banner

Tap water Specs

2K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
Following is what I received from the Greater Cincinnati Water Works in reply to my inquiry as to average GH, KH, PH. Not sure whether this is what I need. Please review and advise. Thanks.

Frank

Hi Mr. Obermeyer,
You receive your water from the Richard Miller Treatment Plant (RMTP).
We use slightly different terms.
The average Total hardness for RMTP is 132 milligrams per liter (mg/L) as CaCO3.
The average Total alkalinity is 75 mg/L as CaCO3.
I believe the Total hardness is equivalent to GH and alkalinity is equivalent to KH.
The pH is 8.6.

Additional information that you might find useful:
Milligrams per liter (mg/L) is the same as parts per million (ppm). The two terms are used interchangeably.
There are 17.1 mg/L for each grain per gallon (gpg).
The average Total hardness for Miller water is then 132 mg/L or 7.7 gpg.
 
See less See more
#3 ·
I don't know what you are after in terms of fish/water, but I can say that your GH at 132ppm is roughly 7 dGH. This is at the upper end of the "soft" range. Well suited to soft water fish and live plants. Near ideal, in fact.

The KH/Alkalinity at 75ppm is roughly 4 dKH. This has no effect whatsoever on fish or plants, but it does act as a pH buffer to maintain the pH at the level in the tap water. But not being high, the pH may well lower in the aquarium due to the organic processes. Which would certainly be better, with soft water fish.

Byron.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fish monger
#9 ·
Byron, just goes to show you. The anecdotal information for this area has always been that we have hard water. I was going by that and decided to get the actual numbers after seeing so many suggestions on the site to do so. My primary concern is with the PH. First, it seems to greatly limit the variety of species for which I could provide a healthy environment. Second, it seems to run contrary to the hardness of the water. Any thoughts ?
 
#7 ·
I am always glad that I am on a well. I used to live in town, for about 12 years, and even then I carted well water from my parents' house for Drinking and cooking. If I could have carted it for showers I would have as that is as bad as drinking it.

Do I need to condition my well water seeing as there is no chlorine in it?

I am under the impression that it is the chlorine (or more accurately the chloramine) that the conditioners are for. I know it is hard water but I am not going to chemically adjust it, just pre-mix it to reduce the levels. I think that adding a conditioner that is not for chlorine may just chemically mess with the specs. I don't really want to add anything if I don't need to.

Jeff.
 
#12 ·
Do I need to condition my well water seeing as there is no chlorine in it?

I am under the impression that it is the chlorine (or more accurately the chloramine) that the conditioners are for. I know it is hard water but I am not going to chemically adjust it, just pre-mix it to reduce the levels. I think that adding a conditioner that is not for chlorine may just chemically mess with the specs. I don't really want to add anything if I don't need to.
Your last sentence is wise indeed. There is no point in adding chemical preparations when they are not necessary.

One should use a conditioner that deals with your water issues, nothing more when possible. In your case, you probably don't need it. Check the nitrates, these can be high if the well is in an agricultural area. And minerals are another issue, thinking heavy metals (iron, copper, etc) here, but if the water is safe to drink, and you have live plants, this is not a concern.

Byron.
 
#8 ·
Jeff, that's funny. I have friends on well water and they only use it to bathe and wash clothes. They use bottled water for cooking, etc. I would think that you'd need to have your water analyzed to see what treatment is needed. That would be for you and your family more so than for aquariums. There shouldn't be any of the water purifying chemicals to treat; however, there could be microbial concerns.
 
#10 ·
I would think that you'd need to have your water analyzed to see what treatment is needed. That would be for you and your family more so than for aquariums. There shouldn't be any of the water purifying chemicals to treat; however, there could be microbial concerns.
We had our water tested when we bought the house and everything was fine. Our geographic location is pretty good for water quality if the well is deep enough.

Besides, I think people get sold on water treatment systems that they often don't need.

My tests came back last week that told me what I already knew but quantified it for use with the fish. No nasty bugs, that was all that I might have been concerned about.

Jeff.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top