Is my water safe for fish?
I live in an area in which the water from the tap is really disgusting and not recommended for people to drink. Most houses here have a filtration system that is separate from their main water tap. I am thinking about setting up an aquarium but don’t know if I should use the water from the tap or go through the REALLY long process of getting the filtered water. I have the AquaSafe stuff that is supposed to make tap water safe by neutralizing chlorine and such, but I also know that some places have safer tap water than others. Is there any way I can know for sure? Thank you in advance!
Tagged with: chlorine • filtered water • filtration system • setting up an aquarium • tap water • water tap
Filed under: House Water Systems
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Hard to comment without more info.
What is actually bad about your tap water?
High chlorine / chloramine content from the water treatment used to make it safe for drinking? Water conditioner should fix that.
Weird taste from algae growing in the river it comes from? Wont worry the fish.
It’s unsafe to drink as it’s not filtered or treated at all? Fish are probably OK in it.
High nitrate content? Depends how high, but most fish can handle a sensible level.
Extremely hard with lots of dissolved minerals? Get fish that prefer those condtions
Something else???
‘Bad’ water can be many things, how it affects fish depends on what exactly the problem is. Can you get a chemical analysis from the water supply company? They should have one for public health regulations. Once you work out whats in the water you can see what you are dealing with.
Ian
It depends on what kind of fish.
Some may not prefer tap water at all.
well no matter what water you use you still need to put in all the chemicals in order for the fish to live healthy like the filter and all the other products. but go with the safe water so u can be on the safe side. but ask the animal place first to be safe/
get a water treatment/anylizer thingy and ask what type of water you need for a certain fish
Any pet store that sells fish should have tons of info about all that. They should have a ph measuring device also, and a salt measuring device, etc. etc.. Just ask them when you start your aquarium.
I know that some pet stores will sell cycled good water, it will be more expensive but you’ll know for sure that it’s good.
Always use a dechlorinator and your tank water will be made safe.
I would recommend you use the filtered water, or bottle water. I would also use the novaqua. A good rule is if you can drink it safely, then it is okay for fish. Good luck.
Chris, I kept fish both Salt and Fresh. Yes it will be okay but you do have to use the chemicals for removing the chlorine and chloromine (which is chlorine and ammonia mixed) You have to study where the fish come from. If farm raised, then they are not so sensitive. If they are farm raised, then run a diatom filter for a couple of weeks before putting fish in the water. This will insure all chemicals to be removed. SALT WATER fish on the other hand are very sensitive and BEFORE ever purchasing fish, Please do the extensive reading on them that has to be done. Water and Light and Vegetation are all needed and has to be a balance. You have to study where each species is from. They will not mix, they will eat each other. 200 buck fish food for some pacific island species hurts the wallet or brings a hard lesson. Salt tank, start slow, small ten gallon. I successfully had several salt tanks but my best was a ten gallon that survived one fish with no water changes for three years. Just adding clean sterile water.