svachon9 Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 I’m starting a 90 gallon tank with heavy fish load and moderate plants. My water is ----Ph – 7.7, GH- 20, KH- 7dKH MY GH is all magnesium with very little calcium-water softener. I believe I need a calcium boost for my plants to live. I’m not adding corral or egg shells. I see 2 options- API Calcium (it states that is can be used for fresh or salt water) or Seachem Equilibrium containing calcium, magnesium, and potassium salts. I don’t really need more magnesium. Am I over thinking this or should I just add in the API product? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 Yes, just get CaSO4 from Green Leaf Aquariums. You can just dose it right into the aquarium after the water change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svachon9 Posted October 26, 2023 Author Share Posted October 26, 2023 Thanks! I've read CaS04 is not very water soluble. Is that true of this product? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeQ Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 On 10/26/2023 at 10:45 AM, svachon9 said: Thanks! I've read CaS04 is not very water soluble. Is that true of this product? Use Rotalabutterfly.com they are a great source for dry dosing or mixing solutions. They will also warn you when quantities use will face solubility issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 I have never had a problem with it dissolving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seattle_Aquarist Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 On 10/25/2023 at 5:58 PM, svachon9 said: I’m starting a 90 gallon tank with heavy fish load and moderate plants. My water is ----Ph – 7.7, GH- 20, KH- 7dKH MY GH is all magnesium with very little calcium-water softener. I believe I need a calcium boost for my plants to live. I’m not adding corral or egg shells. I see 2 options- API Calcium (it states that is can be used for fresh or salt water) or Seachem Equilibrium containing calcium, magnesium, and potassium salts. I don’t really need more magnesium. Am I over thinking this or should I just add in the API product? Hi @svachon9, Typical water softeners remove calcium and magnesium as well as some other minerals from water sources and replace it with an abundance of sodium or potassium depending upon what is used to recharge the resin (sodium chloride {salt} or potassium chloride. Most water softeners use sodium chloride to recharge the resin because it is 5 - 6 times cheaper. So the water coming out of you water softener should be about 0 dGH however the carbonates (dKH0 are likely equal to or higher than the untreated water and possibly an even higher pH than tap water. If you haven't checked the actual parameters of the water out of your water softener I strongly suggest you do so now. Doing a planted tank using water that has gone through a water softener can be very challenging. Excess sodium can effect plant growth causing poor root growth as well as stunting of plants. Possibly someone here on the forum can share some of their experiences with planted tanks and water softeners. -Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefhugger Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 I wonder if the pre-softener water would be better to use in the tanks? Perhaps check out those parameters, and see if there is a hose handy that is fed from non-softened source? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svachon9 Posted October 29, 2023 Author Share Posted October 29, 2023 Tap water is GH is somewhere between 250-400 ppm. So it's extremely hard. Soften water GH is 60ppm, KH at 125ppm but my Ca is very low. So it appears I need to add Ca. I've read so much on this and there are so many folks who say it doesn't seem that soften water hurts plants or adds any salt to any degree. Since RO water is my absolute last resort, I'm going to try this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicole Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 How did you test your calcium level? I can only find calcium tests for saltwater tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeQ Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 On 12/30/2023 at 1:15 PM, Nicole said: How did you test your calcium level? I can only find calcium tests for saltwater tanks. This is the only calcium/magnesium test kit I could find for freshwater. Its not great, but I still consider it good enough for the price https://www.amazon.com/Monitor-Calcium-Magnesium-Salinity-Tests/dp/B096V9J9JP/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_pp?crid=24X9072PW23LL&keywords=calcium+aquarium+test&qid=1703962394&sprefix=Calcium+aq%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svachon9 Posted December 30, 2023 Author Share Posted December 30, 2023 Fluval has a test kit that is for both salt and freshwater https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjmxrvc67eDAxWBpcgKHSa2AfIYABAJGgJxdQ&ae=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5sa73Ou3gwMVgaXICh0mtgHyEAQYASABEgKzrPD_BwE&sph=&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAASJuRocc-WhrpdLqMf-yOFoRYBHAbQP-T4maUBLS-VQvbLrchZuEvy&sig=AOD64_3-y93mAzQiIqnTmXZoBsWyljR_Dg&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjH6rHc67eDAxVlk4kEHVrSBtIQwg8oAHoECAMQDA&adurl= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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