"Jim Seidman" wrote in message
om...
Cichlidiot wrote in message
...
Most plants do fine in hard water. The big thing to watch out for that
I've found is if your complex/house has a water softener on it. My
complex
does and not all the plants like it very much. I've been fine with java
ferns, crypts, aponogeton bulbs and hairgrass. Other plants have just
not
thrived even with Flourish and CO2 and sufficient lighting.

The problem with water softeners is that they exchange sodium for the
magnesium and calcium in the water. Remember that hardness refers only
to calcium and magnesium, not total dissolved solids. Thus even though
a water softener reduces the levels of Ca and Mg, it actually
increases TDS, since you get two Na+ ions for each Ca++ or Mg++ ion
removed.

It's possible the plants are suffering because the TDS level is too
high, or they have sodium poisoning. (You know how very little lives
in salty soil? Same idea.) Even more likely is that they're simply
starved for Ca and Mg. Adding a fertilizer with these might fix the
problem.

- Jim

Might help with the algae problems too.

I cleared a hair algae problem by just upping the potassium..... It
appeared that K was the limiting factor in my tank.....
The hair algae has almost completely dissapeared in that tank.
Unfortunately now it's poped up in another tank I was neglecting..... Oh
well

Bob