Hard water

[FishyJames]

Any good products or ways to soften hard water besides a large water softener?

Edited August 15, 2021 by FishyJames
I'm an idiot

[Water Box Dreams]

I personally use rain water. My tanks are usually a mix of hard water and rain water to bring the PH and hardness down. 

Some folks have concerns about rain water, fears of acid rain, but rain water is naturally acidic (ph usually 5-6, mine is 5) and I drink rain water, its my only source of drinking water, so if its good enough for me its good enough for my aquarium.

There are other ways to do it I expect but since I have lots of free rain water I use that. Its also very handy for topping up evaporation - none of my tanks have lids.

Acidic rain water (or acidic natural waters) is not good for pipes, hence why all municipal councils bump up the pH above 7 for households. All my pipes are PVC plastic for that reason.

Edited August 15, 2021 by Water Box Dreams

[Jeff]

Cobalt has "Total Softener", and API has "Softener Pillow".

[Mmiller2001]

Just measure GH and KH and cut your water with distilled water. Example, GH 10dGH and KH 5dKH, if I have 1 gallon of that then add 1 gallon of distilled, you now have 2 gallons of 5dGH and 2.5dKH water. 

[Randall from Texas]

I use dehumidifier water. 

[Brymac1]

You could invest in a RO-DI unit