Water softener

[NYfishguy]

Has anyone used API water softener pillow? It does not say what is in it on the package which make me a little hesitant to use it. Also you have to recharge it in salt water after a day or two.

 

[gerald]

It's a cation (positive-charge ion) exchange resin. For each Ca++ or Mg++ ion that it absorbs, it releases two Na+ ions. So you're exchanging hardness ions (Ca and Mg) for Na ions. So it reduces hardness, but it increases conductivity.

 

[NYfishguy]

Would he increase in Na+ ions be harmful to the fish?I'm basically asking if there is a good reason to stay away from this type of this method of softening water.

 

[Mike Wise]

Stay away. Increased conductivity appears to retard spawning as much (if not more) than hard water. Try using peat treated water and see if it helps.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I'm basically asking if there is a good reason to stay away from this type of this method of softening water.

Yes there is, basically they don't serve any useful purpose.

Have a look at this thread for a more complete answer: <http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/i...-or-agassizii-with-api-softener-pillow.15112/>.

cheers Darrel

 

[NYfishguy]

Thanks for the info. Funny when I did a search of water softner pillow, nothing came up.

 

[gerald]

Mike & Darrel -- I was under the impression that obligate softwater/blackwater fish (and their eggs) have more trouble with the divalent ions (Ca++ and Mg++) than they do with sodium (Na+). Not true?

 

[wethumbs]

Gerald you are right. I have used the API water softener pillow before (as an experiment...yes I get bored breeding fish) and to my surprise I was able to get the A. iniridae to spawn after treating the water with it. Obviously, I don't use it anymore but the fact that it worked on a blackwater species it showed that your statement is correct. The spawn size was around 30 which is small for A. iniridae so the high conductivity may be the cause of it.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Mike & Darrel -- I was under the impression that obligate softwater/blackwater fish (and their eggs) have more trouble with the divalent ions (Ca++ and Mg++) than they do with sodium (Na+). Not true?

Gerald you are right. I have used the API water softener pillow before (as an experiment...yes I get bored breeding fish) and to my surprise I was able to get the A. iniridae to spawn after treating the water with it. Obviously, I don't use it anymore but the fact that it worked on a blackwater species it showed that your statement is correct.

We have had a thread about this suggesting that higher conductivity (from monovalent salts) has less effect that we had thought, it is this one: <http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/index.php?threads/ok.12048/>.

I only have planted tanks, so I'm not keen on sodium, although you could re-charge the resin with KCl, (where the plants would deplete the K+ ions during growth). I still don't think it is a viable long term option, but against that I've never tried it.

cheers Darrel