Using RO to soften aquarium water

Good day all

This is my first time posting here and I’m hoping you all can help me.

I Have a pair of German blue rams who are regularly spawning however I have quite hard water and this makes fertilization near impossible.

current parameters:
Ph: 7.2
GH: 10dGH
KH: 10dKH

parameters are the same out the tap

The tanks volume is 66 liters. I do weekly water changes of 30%

my question is how much RO water would I need to add to my weekly water changes to achieve a GH of 3-6dGH and 3-5dKH. What would be the best way to achieve these parameters without running the risk of causing a PH crash or shock to the rams? Can I purchase 5l bottles of RO water from the shops to use during my water changes?

Hopefully these aren’t stupid questions with very obvious answers. I’d just rather get as much information as possible before trying to adjust my parameters.

 

Is this tap water? Because that's sky high for the Cape area. To achieve that mix you could probably go 60:40 RO:Normal

 

It is Borehole water that runs through a filtration system and feeds the entire house.

 

Hello Aston and welcome.

I would do as Hendre suggests. Make up a mix of RO : borehole water and then do frequent smaller WC until the parameter are where you want them to be. Personally I would do 2L daily until the tank is at the desired gH and kH and then I would go back to the 30 % weekly changes that you are currently doing

 

Thank you so much for your reply! I’m going to get started with a 2l water change this evening

 

Welcome! If you're keen on breeding rams, I'd invest in a TDS pen - https://www.takealot.com/tds-thermometer-handheld-pen-meter-hold-carry-pouch/PLID46906808
Helps keep quick tabs on water hardness/ mineral content. Will need to be 80 - 120ppm reading for the eggs to become fertilised.

Once you work out the best mix of borehole/ RO, try keep that ratio as consistent as possible and I'm sure you'll have babies in no time.
Not sure where in CT you are, but Newlands Spring water is pretty good too (5.5pH; GH 1; KH 1; TDS 58 last I checked it). RO should be close to pH 7 though, close to your borehole pH, so that's ideal to work with.

 

Thank you so much for the advice. a TDS pen is definitely my next investment. I stay in durbanville so a trip to newlands is abit out the way. Tha

 

Thank you!
Funny enough my Male is one of Marco’s Wild x Dark Knights

 

Hi @AstonWright

Welcome to the forum
Sorry i dont have much experience using RO but good advice has been given so far

Good luck with your breeding project and share some pictures of your tank, we love to see pictures!!

 

Would this water be fine to dilute with my tap water during water changes?

 

Here’s a few pictures of the pair

 

They are stunning @AstonWright !!

Gorgeous coloring

 

Best get RO refills, cheaper than buying bottles

 

Yeah they have a refill counter at the store just thought I’d buy a 5 liter bottle and give it a go first.

 

Beauties! Marco breeds what are quite possibly the best rams available anywhere, and that goes a long way when breeding further - quality fish. Good luck, and look forward to seeing things progress.

 

Seems to have worked thank you guys so much for all the advice

 

Congrats on the fry. . Glad it worked out