will using hard water in a safety acid pickle be a problem?
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The water I use is hard water, just keep a check on the pH, Get the pH stable before putting hides in the acid bath. I use either formic acid or WASCOs Acid Bath Crystals, but I let the Bath sit for a day or two to make sure the pH is 2.0 or lower. When its stable and I get three checks about 6 hours apart, I feel its safe to add the hides.
Once the hides are in the bath, you still must check the pH as it will climb, just mix in a little more acid to lower the pH, to below 2.5.
Hard Water is highly mineralized. This is very typical when using well water - but it shouldnt be a problem, unless you neglect monitoring your PH. As John had said - you can compensate for it by adding more Acid. If your Aquafier runs through Limestone - you will almost always see your Pickle level out at a higher PH then below a 2.0. I compensate for it by adding .75 fl. ozs. instead of .5 fl. ozs. when I initially mix my Pickle. With Saftee Acid, using .75 fl. ozs. - you will get a reading about .9 - 1.1 PH initially and it will go up once you place the skins into it. However, as long as it stays "below" 2.0 - it's very effective.