<< >.Do I lose the plastic plants because they are tacky or do they have some > affect on my water quality? They are a brand new addition. I do have some > nice floating water sprite, rooted cabomba and amazon sword. >> Lose them because they are tacky. The Water Sprite is a great plant for surface cover, and the cabomba and swords are easy to maintain. The water sprite can be planted and will grow into a truly grand looking plant in a relatively short time. As for the water softening pillow, I've never tried them. I recommend Mardel's "Tank Soft" until you get involved enough to justify the cost of a DI or RO unit. It is also considerably cheaper than the pillow thing. Bob