Re: reducing water hardness for breeding discus

["Bill Hickman" <hickmanb@accessus.net>]

>>in dallas,tx water is hard...approx 200pm...am looking for an inexpensive
>>way to reduce the hardess thakinginto accoun multiple water changes of
>>30% or more are performed per week, thanks, russ

I'm not 100% sure that I'm right about this but I think that hard water
filtered through peat moss will be both softened and acidified.
I know peat can be purchased very cheaply, in bulk from nurseries as I've
just bought a 50 lbs. bag.  I know the more expense peat granules I have in
my Aqua Clear filter last quite a while so I would also assume that I will
be able to treat allot of water with 50 lbs. of peat moss.  I believe I
remember someone telling me I could just put the peat in a bag an throw it
into my holding tank (40 gallon trash can).  I also remember something about
boiling the peat but I'm not sure that is correct.
I haven't tried this method yet but I would like to hear from the more
experienced members to find if I'm sharing good info.  If I'm right this
maybe a very cheap way to soften your water.

Alternate issue;  I like to see the fry remain with their parents but don't
believe they would learn as much from this as I do. Just MHO.

Bill Hickman
Mascoutah, IL.


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