> Good Morning...
>
> A couple of questions for all you wise and witty list members.
>
> 1) I have an opportunity to purchase a used 180 gallon, "Island" brand
> aquarium from a local pet shop dealer. The tank looks OK and even has a
> stand, all for $300.00. This seems like a pretty good deal to me. But
> you know, I don't trust pet store people. This stems from my early days
> when I used to get so much misinformation from them. All for the cause
> of making the sale, I suppose.
>
> Anyway, he says the tank "looks" about 3 years old. My feeling is that
> how it looks depends on how the previous owner took care of it. He has
> been keeping ferrets in the tank, as well, and I am a little worried
> about possible damage to the tank seals from their claws. He says he
> will fill the tank for me, but I'm more worried about the tank holding
> water in 3 years than I am about it holding water now.
>
> Any sharing of tips and/or past experiences with used tanks is welcome.
I've heard stories of terrestrial animals chewing on, abrading, or
otherwise compromising the sealant in tanks. I've not heard specifically of
ferrets doing this. A careful inspection of the beads of silicone is in
order. If they are abraded, gnawed or otherwise compromised, I'd avoid
the tank.
> 2) How about these potassium or sodium salt run water softerners? I have
> always used RO for my water changes but thought I could kill two birds
> with one stone by purchasing a water softerner run with potassium
> chloride. I was thinking of using this unit not only to fill my tanks,
> but to bathe and wash my clothes in as well. What a concept. Does
> anybody use this type of soft water in their tanks? What are the pros
> and cons?
Cation exchangers like Na+ or K+ water softners will not remove anions of
concern. They include, but are not limited to: nitrate, phosphate,
silicate. If you have problematic amounts of any of those in your
municipal water supply, I'd suggest using the water softener as a "front
end" for your RO unit.
In other words, cation exchangers will not do anything about high
concentrations of anions in the water.
Best wishes,
Craig