Seachem Equilibrium Application

Is it okay to abruptly change the hardness in an aquarium? For instance, when I do a 50% water change, I add enough equilibrium to bring the tank back to a gH of 8, which requires a couple tablespoons. Is it stressful for the fish to increase the hardness from 4dh to 8dh this abruptly?

 

That is a death sentence I believe. I have not personally done it.

My suggestion is to add a little this week and a little more next week slowly building it up .

If you really must change the water so dramatically you would have to put the fish in plastic bags and acclimate them for a few hours to the the totally different water. That is a stressful thing to do and I can see no reason to do that?

Edit
You do not say what species of fish.
What you might get away with for a goldfish might not work with a cichlid ? For example.

 

So the proper way to do it is to add it to the new water first then fill the tank? That would render my Python useless, but that's obviously better than killing fish.

 

I personally don't think it's a problem. I've done this before, with baking soda (which isn't as good), for years and I never saw any ill effects. Also, I've watched videos of Green Aqua doing this with their tanks. They change about 50% of the water with RO, then they add something like Equilibrium to bring the hardness back up. It doesn't seem to hurt anything.

 

If the hardness is already at a level of course you have to add products to bring it back to that level.
I believe the original question is about changing the hardness from one level to another in a short amount of time?

 

If the hardness is already at a level of course you have to add products to bring it back to that level.
I believe the original question is about changing the hardness from one level to another in a short amount of time?

OP said, "Is it okay to abruptly change the hardness in an aquarium? For instance, when I do a 50% water change, I add enough equilibrium to bring the tank back to a gH of 8, which requires a couple tablespoons."

I believe my answer directly addressed the question. Abruptly changing the GH after a 50% water change is exactly what I did for years. And, it's what I've seen professionals do in their tanks as well. I've personally not seen it cause any issues.

Here is a video of a maintenance session from Green Aqua:

If you forward the video to 3:21, you'll see them doing exactly what the OP asked about.

 

You are 100% correct Mudminnow.
My mistake, I was over complicating such a simple question. I am sorry for the confusion on my part.
I apologise to you both. Sorry.

To be fair it’s still possible to interpret the question the way I first read it.

quote
“Is it stressful for the fish to increase the hardness from 4dh to 8dh this abruptly?”

If that is writing only about the water change water it’s my mistake.

 

There is a big difference between Equilibrium which is designed to increase general hardness and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) which will increase alkalinity. Changes in hardness and alkalinity are never good, but fish will tolerate changes in alkalinity more easily than changes in hardness. When the hardness of the water changes, the ionic equilibrium of every cell in their bodies has to adapt to the new hardness. That can be stressful.

Equilibrium does not dissolve immediately in water. You should always add the powder to water outside the tank and then slowly pour the water into the tank. Otherwise, the fish might swallow granules of the chemicals, which would not be helpful.

If the tank is currently at 4 dGH and you want to increase the hardness to 8 dGH, try to increase the hardness over a period of several days so the fish have time to adjust to the new hardness level.

If you tank is already at 8 dGH, but the tap water you are using for water changes has a hardness of 4 dGH, add the Equilibrium to a container of tap water outside the aquarium, allow the Equilibrium to dissolve and then add it to the tank.

 

That answers my question. Thank you everyone