Hose water or house softened water

[JasonAA]

Hi All. I recently setup at 120 gallon tank and originally I used house water that runs through a softener. Its salt softened. The tank never cleared so I drained it and used outside water and eventually got to a clear tank. Now its been going for about 4 weeks (2 mollies) and I did a water change today because my nitrites were nearing 1.0ppm and ammonia was .50ppm. Nitrates were around 60ppm. I realize I am probably in the middle of the cycle and things will eventually go down.

My question is my water is really hard. Will that cause me issues or can I use the house water thats been through the softener process. General hardness is 180 whereas inside is 30.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Are you using an rodi?

Are we talking saltwater or freshwater?

 

[JasonAA]

freshwater

 

[JasonAA]

Are you using an rodi?

Are we talking saltwater or freshwater?

sorry. Freshwater

 

[JasonAA]

sorry. Freshwater

My regular house faucet is not an RO. However I have a drinking portion that is RO but it only makes 3 gallons at a time.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I'm sure that there are a few people that have kept or keep freshwater that may be able to help...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm confused. We are talking about a new reef tank, right? Not a freshwater tank?

For a marine tank, hardness will just add a bit to calcium and magnesium. Ignore it.

Copper in tap water is the big concern if this is a reef tank.