Home water softener change from salt to potassium for aquarium use?

I'm don't know, but I can tell you that I have used a home water softener for years and never had a problem with using tap water for my aquarium.
 
When I was using my softener with salt it never hurt or bothered my fish either but the salt ions slowly killed my plants and plant filter. I once drained the water during a water change into my garden and that entire section withered pretty good. I have heard that the alternative is granulated potassium instead of salt, twice as expensive but doesn't affect plants so I can irrigate with my change water instead of just dumping it down the drain. Just wondering if anyone has used potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride in their softener for their plants as well as fish and how its worked out for them that's all.
 
works great for me. its kinda pricey though.
 
But if it works its still cheaper then having to use 50% RO with my 600 PPM Cal/Mag raw water outside. I used to save by using 70% sodium chloride softener water and 30% RO, but like I said I can no longer use any of the softener water because it wacks my plant nitrate filter or any plants for that matter as plants are very sensitive to salt as it interferes with the plants ability to hydrate itself and starts to wither. So even though more then twice as expensive as sodium chloride if I use potassium chloride sparingly and recharge my softener only when I do water changes, I should be able to save a substantial amount over having to buy RO at $0.20 a gallon, plus use it on my indoor plants and drain to my outside garden. Do you water your fish and inside plants with potassium chloride softened water and if how how does it affect them?

Today's a prime example its water change time for both aquariums (120+60) and I need to do a big one 50% instead of 30% like I have every 14 days because my nitrates hit 40 PPM today for the first time and my Phosphate count is off the chart, 10 PPM+. But I really cant afford 45 gallons of RO for a 90 gallon water change (50%) so until I get the potassium for the softener I'm going to risk using just 20% RO or 22 gallons with this 50% or 90 gallon water change using primarily well water about 70 gallons. Cant wait to get the softener flushed out of salt.
 
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yes I use it on indoor plants and my discus tank with plants.
its worth it, no side effects.
 
I have very hard water here as well... maybe not quite as hard as you guys

but I use tap water just fine with No softener and my fish do very well

I hate water softeners-- and I will never use one

I cant stand the feeling it leaves on your skin when you take a shower
 
Well I went shopping today to find sodium free water softener otherwise known as potassium chloride crystals. The only place that had it was Culligan Water service for $20 for 40 Lbs called "Natures Own". The bag says its sodium free for diets and great for plants and gardens. This compared to a 40 Lbs bag of Sodium Chloride for $5, if you don't plan on using it on anything that grows. Since I only plan on recharging my water softener the day before my bi-monthly water chnages, one 40 Lbs should last me 6 months which saves me $200 a year over partial RO use. Not to mention all the extra trips to the RO store. But it was misery today as I had to scoop out 8 gallons of sodium salt from the holding tank and then cycle the system to make brine out of what was left and flush it out. I plan to cycle the system a few more times over the course of 24 hours before putting in the potassium, then run the system on max 100 grains or 1700PPM at least one cycle. Hopefully the phosphate tester will provide some change results. Then I be able to do as many Python water changes I want without lugging RO bottles.
I stopped at Sears to price out the same water softener I have in my home for my rental home as I told my tenant I would consider having one installed. Not only will it help him with not having to constantly clean calcium build up on toilets and sinks but it also save the pipes in the house from getting clogged with calcium deposits. Price installed when I bought mine 4 years ago $350. Price for the same new one installed today $500. Still the price is better the Culligan who's bottom price installed is $1700:eek:. But if I want to stave off future pluming problems I think I better get it which will also make my tenant happy and not move as soon hopefully.

yesterdays water chnage due to higher then expected nitrates 40PPM, required me to use more well water and less RO and I think my fish look a little stressed over it. But this solution should take care of my 600-800 PPM Cal/Mag water.
 
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