Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, I have tried the "search" feature until my head hurts. Here is my problem: MY water out of the faucet has high alkaline, high alkalinity, and is very soft according to the test strips I bought from Wall * Mart. Is there any thing I can do to improve this in my tank? We have a water softner. The water outside will come out almost red because it is so hard.

Thank you

By the sounds of it... what you actually have is... high general hardness.... full of mineral content... iron in particular...

While it's not impossible.... it's very unusaul to have high general hardness.... with low carbonate hardness (alkalinity)...

i.e.... it's a bit of a contradiction to have "hard" water.... that's "soft"....

What's your actual pH of the source water... and can you test for carbonate (in particular) and general hardness...

Reverse Osmosis would seem to be the only real solution to your problem by what you've posted above...

But in an aquaponics system... a high mineral content would not necessarily be a bad thing.... and it might just be a matter of pH adjustment...

Yea, we need to know the PH of your source water. Get a cupful from the tap and aerate it for 1 hour and then measure your PH and let us know of your results.

is above 7.8

Thats not so bad but you definately have an iron issue I would expect from the red colouring. It may require further analisis so we can better grasp the profiles of your water source. RO or charcoal filtering might be your best bet

7.8 does indicate any great degree of carbonate hardness... if you water is as "hard" as you suggest....

Your problem then is purely "mineral" related.... but only really for laundry purposes... or perhaps drinking taste...

Your system pH will drop with nitrification and age anyway.... and your source water will provide the minerals that others are often deficient in....

I really don't think you have any real problem....

But an RO filter is the only answer if you feel you do...

The colour of red, brown or orange from your tap is caused by rust in the water. The different colors can be attributed to varying chemical oxidation states of the iron (rust) and by varying concentrations of the rust in the water. There are two major sources that can cause water to be rusty: 1) the Water Board's water mains or 2) the water pipes in your house, apartment, or business.


Id be making sure its a source water issue or maybe its more close to home. Its important to ensure your water is not an issue as this will what you are doing water changes, top ups and additions with.

If I am not mistaken, in Rozer WY, he has his own water well. Therefore, the minerals are in the source water.

I have the same issue with all of my three water wells, and the water has worked very well in my fish tank.

So, my recommendation is, build your Aquaponics system, fill up your fish tank. To start use minnows and after the system is cycled, then add your main course fish fingerlings.

The only thing I do every month is, I add about 1/2 lb of baking soda to my fish tank water. And the Azomit that I add to my fish food, take care of other minerals that is needed for fish and the greens.

Ok, I miss-represented something here. When I said "The water outside..." That is before the water softener.

I will try adding some baking soda and some Azomit. Whatever that is.

The baking soda wont lower your pH... or your hardness... and wont remove any of the mineral content...

If you're worried about the mineral content.. then probably only RO would work...

Personally... I don't think you have any significant problem... and I'd just leave it alone.. and run it...