Equlibrium replacement due to hard water

[Crazymidwesterner]

So recently I confirmed my suspicions that I have very hard water. This hasn't really been an issue but it seems like a bad idea to add Seachem equilibirum to my tank which will make it even harder. I have two tanks and I am using one as a blackwater low tech tank and softening with peat and the fish in that tank just seem much happier in that tank as opposed my normal planted tank. I am guessing that is because of the PH and hardness being closer to their natural habitat. Long story short I was curious if there was something I could substitute for equilibrium in my planted tank.

Any suggestions out there to get the benefit of equilibrium without the added hardness. I am basing my dosage off of the Excel tank suggestions on this forum.

Dosing currently goes something like
1/2 teaspoon of KNO3, 2x a week
1/4 teaspoon of KH2PO4, 2x a week
1/2 teaspoon SeaChem Equilibrium once a week (Immediately after weekly water change).
10 ML Tropica Plant Nutrition 2x a week
50% weekly water change
15-20 ML of excel Daily

I'd appreciate any feedback.

 

[Biollante]

The Point Being...

Hi JJ,

I do not see much reason for Seachem Equilibrium at all at your dosing rate you are adding less than 1-ppm of general hardness ([SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]18[/SUB]-dGH) and less than [SUP]1[/SUP]⁄[SUB]100[/SUB]-ppm iron.

1. How hard is your water?
   
2. How do you know?
   
3. What habitat?
   

---

Now for the unsolicited advice part of our program…

• Stop using Seachem Equilibrium and TPN. (TPN is adding a little more than [SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]2[/SUB]-ppm K[SUP]2+[/SUP], less than [SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]3[/SUB]-ppm Mg[SUP]2+[/SUP] ([SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]62[/SUB]-dGH) and [SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]20[/SUB]-ppm Fe[SUP]2+[/SUP] each week.)
  
• I would advise doubling the amount of KNO[SUB]3[/SUB].
• Halving the amount of KH[SUB]2[/SUB]PO[SUB]4[/SUB].
• Add at least [SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]4[/SUB] teaspoon CSM+B twice a week, [SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]2[/SUB] teaspoon would be better.

Biollante

 

[Crazymidwesterner]

Well I know I will catch some flack here but I used an API test strip and it was off the charts high. Used the same strip (different strip same kind) on some water that came out of my dehmidifier just to gauge if it was correct at least directionally and there was almost no hardness in that.

As far as habitat, its just a planted tank. I have some shrimp and ottos in there so far. Not sure what fish to go with yet. Not a ton of fish that aren't huge and aggresssive seem to like hard water.

I'll give your suggestions a shot. No advice for me is unsolicited. I'll always take what I can get.


Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

 

[Biollante]

What Is Lurking In The Tap?

Hi,


Which API test strips?
What was “off the charts high?”


Can you get a water report, you may have to request it or talk to someone the Dixon Water Department to get the alkalinity and hardness and so forth.
I tried there website and got the general mandatory reports, which look good, not like that crap Gerry and Pat W have, which are way better than mine.

• Though to be fair at least my "crap" is metals, Gerry and Pat W appear to have literal crap!

It is possible that being a well based system, you have to give them a specific address or neighborhood to get the information. Many times, they will give the information over the phone.


Biollante

 

[Crazymidwesterner]

Yeah I talked to them yesterday. PH is between 7-8 and I am pretty sure he said my GH was 300 mg/L which seems extremely high but according to the test kits it's higher than 180 at least so that makes sense. You should see the crap I pull out of my water heaters every year :-o

No nitrates or potassium to speak of.

Getting ready to order some CSM+B. Do you see any value to an Iron source?

 

[Crazymidwesterner]

Also, just to be sure, with your suggestions you know I am running an excel tank not pressurized C02 correct?

 

[Biollante]

Not All That Bad... In Fact Not Bad At All!

Hi,

The GH is a bit high going on 17 d-GH, just means you do not need any GH booster, only a few critters and fewer plants care.:gw


I don’t think it hurts to add extra iron but unless you are into iron hungry plants CSM+B works I tend to dose CSM+B targeting at least .5-ppm iron.



If you opt for more iron I think you should stick to DPTA as the chelator.

Biollante