Does boiling affect the hardness of water?

[brinyveg]

I've been thinking of softening my betta's water the free way - just putting new water in a pot and boiling it for partial water changes each week.
If this works, how long should I boil it for? Is a kettle a better option?
Will this shock and harm him, I really don't want to risk that.
I'm trying to keep the water crystal clear, no tannins, so I'm hoping this method will do the trick.

[sSjey]

I'm afraid that boiling the water won't quite do the trick. It'll lower the KH, which is also known as temporary hardness, by removing carbonates, but it won't budge the calcium and magnesium levels. Those are the culprits behind hard water. Heating does reduce KH, but the GH, or permanent hardness, is a different story - it's not going anywhere with just boiling.

[coltin]

No, boiling won't soften the water. It's not that simple. To get truly soft water, you'd need to use a different approach.

One option is to set up a solar still. It's a pretty straightforward process. You'll need a few basic items: a plastic bucket, a plastic storage container with a lid, and a couple of non-porous rocks.

Place the storage container outside in direct sunlight. Fill it halfway with tap water. Then, position the bucket in the center of the container and put a rock in the bucket to weigh it down. Put the lid on the container, and add another rock on top, near the center.

As the water evaporates, it will condense on the underside of the lid. The rock on the lid causes it to sag in the middle, directing the pure water to drip into the bucket. This method produces water with a GH of 0ppm and a pH of 7.0. Alternatively, you could use rainwater or reverse osmosis water to achieve similar results.

[oldraider]

I've been using RO water for my tetra tank and it's worked out great. It's a better option than distilled water, in my experience. You can pick some up and use it for your water changes – it's a good way to go.

[brinyveg]

I've been using RO water for my tetra tank and it's worked out great. It's a better option than distilled water, in my experience. You can pick some up and use it for your water changes – it's a good way to go.

Found a decent option that fits my 30L tank, and it's pretty affordable. I'll also be on the lookout for RO water, seems like the way to go.

[oldraider]

I get my water from a local soft water supplier, never used an RO system myself. Some members here have their own setups, but I looked into it and a system costs over $1,300 - my wife wasn't too keen on that kind of expense for my aquarium.

[sSjey]

I believe that's the replacement cartridge for the RO system. You'll need to purchase the actual equipment separately. These cartridges have a limited lifespan, which is why they sell replacements. It's similar to a filter with a carbon cartridge - you need to replace the cartridge when it gets full. However, you have to buy the filter itself first. The item in your link is just the replacement cartridge.

[oldraider]

If you search for places in your area that sell water softeners or water coolers, that's where I get my RO water from. I buy it from a local dealer, similar to Calican Water, they sell it in those big 5-gallon jugs you see on top of drinking water dispensers. My local dealer also lets me fill up one-gallon bottles for just 29 cents a gallon.

[angelica]

I source my RO water from a local soft water dealer, but I've never had to purchase a system like the one you're looking at. There are some members here who have their own RO setups, and I've considered it too - however, the cost was a bit steep for me, at over $1,300. My wife wasn't too keen on spending that kind of money on my fish, understandably.

[juicebox]

I buy mine from a local soft water dealer - I'm not really familiar with the equipment, just the end result. There are some folks on this forum who have their own RO systems, but I looked into getting one and it's just not in the budget - over $1,300, and the wife isn't exactly thrilled about dropping that kind of cash on my fish.