[tinytetra]

Hi guys, I am about to move house with my 2 tanks and am just wondering how the change in water hardness will affect my fish and plants.
I am moving from a hardness of 11.00 to 3.85 (these are degrees Clarke, the only unit on both reports). I can post the full reports if needed.

I have a 40G South American type tank with neons, rummynoses, corys, otos, whiptails and rams, planting being mostly Echinodorus sp. and a 15G cube containing only RCS at present with planting being mostly Crypts - although the ultimate plan with this tank is to add CPDs and maybe another teeny species...

I assume that the 40G will be fine as these are soft water fish but will the water be TOO soft - will I need to add anything to the water to replace the lost minerals (for the plants in particular)? What about my RCS will they struggle to moult in this water, in which case what do I need to add to help them and how will this affect future fish choices for this tank?

I use Prime as my conditioner and dose daily with Flourish and Easy Carbo in both tanks.

Thanks in advance!

 

[dave56]

Are you talking about general hardness, or carbonate hardness?

 

[Boredomb]

If you are talking about GH and I am going to assume you are the water will be fine for the fish. I would acclimate them to it through. 4gh will be a lil soft for the plants so you might need to add a GH booster for them. Seachems makes one think its called Equilibrium. That will replace the minerals need for the plants.
The shrimp might have a problem moulting in that soft of water like you know. So more then likely to are going to have to raise the hardness. I don't have experience in that so will leave that to others.
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[dave56]

As posted the water would be fine for the fish, but the plants need a little more GH. Anywhere in the neighborhood of 4-5 GH is good. The Equilibrium would work fine The shrimp will have trouble molting in that water. You can also add some crushed oyster shell (rinsed very well), or Dolomite used in marine aquariums to a bag in your filter. This will raise the KH, and give your water some alkalinity, and buffering capacity. If you use this watch your PH, and KH it can raise fairly quickly in a small tank.

 

[Boredomb]

Before adding a mineral booster as I mentioned. I would just see how the plants would do first. I was informed by a lil birdie that your new hardness should be fine for plants. Though do expect the crypts to melt. That's a big change for them. Not much you can do there. Was also informed that shrimp might also be alright.

 

[dave56]

Before adding a mineral booster as I mentioned. I would just see how the plants would do first. I was informed by a lil birdie that your new hardness should be fine for plants. Though do expect the crypts to melt. That's a big change for them. Not much you can do there. Was also informed that shrimp might also be alright.

Excellent advice!! Everything might adjust to your new water fine. You can always make changes later if necessary;-)

 

[Boredomb]

Excellent advice!! Everything might adjust to your new water fine. You can always make changes later if necessary;-)

Agreed..

 

[AbbeysDad]

+1 on acclimation. You'll want to give the fish a chance to adjust. I use drip acclimation. Put the fish in a bucket, inside a larger bucket. Then use air line tubing to create a siphon with either a valve or a knot to control the "drip"...or trickle.