What cleaner fish can live with cichlids?

How do I choose the best cichlids for my tank?

Inspect the tanks at local specialty fish stores; check out the species they keep with cichlids: Are they healthy and thriving, or do they look beat up and stressed? Some people choose heavily armored tank companions for their cichlids.

Can I Harden my fish tank water?

If you use any sort of extras to harden or soften the water, ensure that they’ve been cleaned thoroughly, so it doesn’t do more harm than good. When purchasing fish, check with your local pet shop to find out what the hardness and pH levels are for their tanks.

Can you keep hard water fish in a fish tank?

We’ll also give you a list of hard water fish you can keep in a hard water tank! There are both natural and chemical ways you can try to fix hard water in your fish tank. You can install a Reverse Osmosis unit and turn hard water into completely soft water.

How to soften hard water in a fish tank?

Using driftwood is another common way to soften hard water. Before using it, you have to boil it to ensure that it’s 100% clean and free of tannins and toxins. Once you’ve finished purifying the driftwood, we recommend soaking it in clean water for a few days before putting it in your fish tank.

How do I soften hard water for fish?

There are several ways you can soften hard water if necessary, including: If your chosen species of fish truly must have soft water, consider changing water sources instead of using expensive ongoing water treatments. Using Reverse Osmosis (RO) water to blend in is one option, as is using a combination of tap and distilled water.

How to soften hard water without drilling?

Using peat is also a popular method for softening hard water. First, boil the peat to ensure that it doesn’t contain any impurities. Next, soak the peat in a bucket full of the water that you want to soften and wait a few days. Wherever you choose to soak the peat, make sure that the water isn’t stagnant.

How to soften aquarium water?

If you do need to soften your aquarium water, you do have options. 1. Peat Peat can be added into the aquarium filter or directly into the tank, but usually, the best results will come from placing it in the filter. Peat lowers pH by releasing tannins and gallic acids into the water.

What does hardness mean in a fish tank?

In an aquarium, hardness is measurement of dissolved minerals in water, mostly calcium and bicarbonates. These minerals tend to buffer the pH of water, making it resist changes in pH. Because of this, most aquarium fish who prefer hard water also like their water with a higher pH.

What causes hard water in aquariums?

Crushed coral sand and calcium-rich rocks like tufa rock and limestone can raise the hardness of aquarium water by slowly leaching minerals into the water that harden it.

How to increase hardness in an aquarium?

To increase hardness in an aquarium, use a water filter that includes a media bed of either crushed coral or aragonite. These minerals will help raise the pH and carbonate levels in your tank.

How to soften fish tank water without harming fish?

If you want to soften your fish tank water without affecting the daily life of the fish, you can consider adding peat moss to it. You have to keep in mind that peat moss doesn’t work instantly. Instead, it can gradually reduce the number of minerals from the water.

How do I lower the pH in my tank water?

Peat lowers pH by releasing tannins and gallic acids into the water. These chemicals, in essence, cancel out the bicarbonate ions in the water, helping to lower the pH and soften the water in the process. Products like Fluval’s Peat Granules Filter Media will help soften your tank water without making a mess in your tank.

Do I need to soften the water in my Aquarium?

You may need to soften the water in your aquarium for many reasons. Whether it’s for sensitive fish or soft water plants, there are several methods you can use to reach the hardness level you want.

How to get soft water for aquariums?

In that case, the best way to get soft water for your aquarium is rainwater harvesting. As you can expect, rainwater doesn’t contain the minerals that bother us in hard water. So, if you can harvest this pure water during the rainy season, you can use the same for your aquarium.

How to soften hard water in aquariums?

Water Softening Pillows Installing these units in the filter of the aquarium also helps in softening hard water. This is considered to the best method if you want to learn how to soften aquarium water in smaller tanks. All you have to do is lay the water softening pillows in the aquarium filter and allow the water to pass through it.

Can you increase the hardness of water for fish?

If you have figured out that you need to raise the general hardness of your water to ensure your fish’s survival, it is all good. You can increase the hardness of your water as much you can soften it. If you have ever pondered on how to increase it, here’s how:

Do aquarium fish prefer hard water or soft water?

Because of this, most aquarium fish who prefer hard water also like their water with a higher pH. Never use water softened by home water softeners for aquariums, even for soft-water fish.

What causes hard water stains in aquariums?

This occurs when the mineral-rich water starts evaporating. As a result, it leaves behind the minerals that get stuck on the glass. This buildup is referred to as hard water stains. These stains don’t hurt or cause any damage to the fishes or the tank, but they look unappealing.

Can fish survive in an aquarium with no general hardness?

The sad truth is that your fishes may not survive when your aquarium water has NO general hardness. This means that it is advisable that your aquarium must have at least some measure of GH for your fishes to survive. Sounds good? But here’s the thing….

What is the difference between general hardness and carbonate hardness in fish tank?

So, general hardness takes care of the biological needs of your water while carbonate hardness tends its pH level. So next time someone tells you that the pH level of your fish tank water is changing, then KH is out of suitable range. If your fishes are not growing healthy bones or gills, advance your mind to GH.

Can you put Wood in a fish tank?

Tannins don’t cause any damage to the fish, but they do make the water look brownish. So to avoid this, you can soak the wood in a container or bucket of water for a few weeks before placing it in the tank. And as you already know, don’t forget to add that airstone, so the water keeps moving.

How to reduce water hardness in a fish tank?

If you want to know how to reduce water hardness in a fish tank in the most economical manner, then here it is. Using Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) units helps in getting rid of contaminants, minerals, and metals from the source of the water.