Water softeners harmful for fish ?

[Adam S]

That's good to know Adam ! I'm mainly worried because the tank in my office is housing young discus about 3" now 8 of them. I've read in many posts that you need minerals in your water when growing discus. I wouldn't be worrying if it was adults.

Its good to know that your discus are doing fine with soft water, but as Mike mentioned in his posts overtime Sodium can build up so might be good I mix some regular tap water along.

I use plain tap, the softened water was an accident. It uses too much softener salt. That being said, I would not hesitate to use softened water for growing out fish if that was all that was available.

Not sure I follow the sodium build up thing. Do you mean in the fish or in the water?

[sanjay21]

I use plain tap, the softened water was an accident. It uses too much softener salt. That being said, I would not hesitate to use softened water for growing out fish if that was all that was available.

Not sure I follow the sodium build up thing. Do you mean in the fish or in the water?

Sodium being build up in the aquarium I mean.

[sanjay21]

So just one more thought on the bypass valve...what a PIA to keep throwing that valve every day AND....ask me how I know... They are usually cheap brittle plastic and are not intended to be used on a daily basis.

The more you use it the more the seals start to leak and then one day.....SNAP...you have no idea how much water will come out before you get the whole house valve shut off.

I went down this exact road about a year ago....now I just use half tap(softened) and half RO.

My philosophy...any little PIA thing you have to do is just an excuse to delay a WC.
I said screw it, if the fish can't take my water, I can't have them...they are doing great so far! They regularly spawn in the tank...

Don't over think this...if you have reasonably good water use the softened stuff.

Now of course breeding and raising fry is totally different. But for a display tank no issues.

Yep, just have the family take their showers while you have the water softener in bypass. The water heater will be depleted or at least mixed with fresh water and then you could do water change from tap. The family is clean and the fish are clean. After showers and water change, switch bypass off. Would suck to do that daily though....

The softener should be on the main supply coming into the house. If you open the bypass then it will be sending unsoftened water to your water heater...although your tank would already be full of the softened water

I agree that using Bypass will resolve the issue, but yes repeated usage of bypass valve might damage it causing leak. I think I will take the extra effort by adding some regular water (aged and heated) from the garden hose unit. Since its first floor will be using a couple buckets and rest will be tap water(soft). Will occasionally add some minerals as well probably once a week! Thanks everyone.

[Ryan925]

I agree that using Bypass will resolve the issue, but yes repeated usage of bypass valve might damage it causing leak. I think I will take the extra effort by adding some regular water (aged and heated) from the garden hose unit. Since its first floor will be using a couple buckets and rest will be tap water(soft). Will occasionally add some minerals as well probably once a week! Thanks everyone.

Could you tap into your cold water supply, before the softener, and have a connection for your aquarium water?

[sanjay21]

Could you tap into your cold water supply, before the softener, and have a connection for your aquarium water?

For the tank on the second floor ? its possible, but maybe extra money hiring a plumber. I did decide to move the tanks from my office on the second floor (sucks!) but I guess giving the babies water they need is what I need to watch out. First floor I have access to cold water which I will be aging it and heating the water. So I guess its good !

[Ryan925]

For the tank on the second floor ? its possible, but maybe extra money hiring a plumber. I did decide to move the tanks from my office on the second floor (sucks!) but I guess giving the babies water they need is what I need to watch out. First floor I have access to cold water which I will be aging it and heating the water. So I guess its good !

Ah got ya. So you do already have access on the first floor.

[Darb]

I have a softener and occasionally i leave the bypass and fill a couple gallons of softened water to my tank and havent noticed any ill effects. The other thing you can use which i have read doesnt hurt the fish is switching from sodium chloride, the regular salt, to potassium chloride. Your fish and plants can use the extra potassium and depending on how hard your water is may or may not be super high.