After years of straight well water, I screwed up!

[Whip's World]

For more than a decade, I've been doing water changes without having to worry about anything other than nitrates coming out of my tap. Two weeks ago, I installed a water softener. I forgot to bypass it while doing my water change this week and I'm sure that my extremely hard water is now soft. How much trouble am I in ?

[KBOzzie59]

How much water did you change?  Are the fish still alive?  What's the parameter difference between the two waters?  How often do you do water changes?

[Bill Smith]

1 hour ago, Whip's World said:

For more than a decade, I've been doing water changes without having to worry about anything other than nitrates coming out of my tap. Two weeks ago, I installed a water softener. I forgot to bypass it while doing my water change this week and I'm sure that my extremely hard water is now soft. How much trouble am I in ?

This is where kH comes into play. If your well water's alkalinity is very high, its possible it could buffer things right back up to where they need to be.

That said, I recommend fresh water changes with the good stuff!

Bill

 

Edited July 20, 2020 by Bill Smith

[Whip's World]

How much water did you change? 

No Idea. Maybe 40% I take it down so its just above the intakes for my canisters.

Are the fish still alive? 

Yes sir

What's the parameter difference between the two waters? 

No idea. I didn't check then and I've been working 16 hour shifts since the mishap.

How often do you do water changes?

Roughly once a week, generally Saturday mornings