Can I use well water for a water change...

[PuppyFluffer]

I have a MiniBow 5 that I am setting up for my daughter to enjoy (and me to take care of). I am in the middle of the cycle.

I have been using bottled spring water because it's affordable at this small quantity.

I have well water and used it for a water change on my small betta tank once and got a huge growth of green algae afterwards, so i've stuck to spring water ever since.

I started this tank with Bio-Spira which I think may not have been effective. I followed the advice of the LFS employee (against my better judgement) and added it and 4 neons and an ADF the same day. I lost the neons. The frog is ok so far. So, I am cycling the tank with fish (well frog) and I'll never do this again!

Tank is 16 day post fish/Bio-Spira addition.

I've had nigh ammonia and some nitrites and no nitrates. I just did water testing and I have 0 ammonia now but nitrites are high and nitrate is there but low. I know i need to get the nitrite out of there. I have no more spring water right now. Can i do a water change with well water at this point or will that mess things up.

It's bed time for the kids, I am the only one here. I don't want to leave the nitrite level high overnight and I dont' really want to pack up the kids to go to the store. Is well water ok tonight?

[scootrnerd]

posting exact water parameters would give better info. if its not that high i w ould wait until the morning rather than use well water. no telling whats in it!

[duke33]

Depending on what's in it... I wish I had well water. City water is scary to this country boy!

[msjinkzd]

i only use my well water. do you drink it? if so, its safe to use in your tank. I would do daily 10% water changes to acclimate the frog to the new water supply.

[scootrnerd]

more power to ya. i guess it depends on where your at. i wouldn't even bath in the well water from around here!

[PuppyFluffer]

I'm sorry, of course exact numbers would help you.

I am using the Tetra brand tests - they are liquid tests with a color strip you match up.

Total ammonia is registering 0

Nitrite is between the colors which indicates between 0.3 mg/l to 0.8 mg/l. I tend to say it's looks more towards the higher number.

Nitrate is 12.5 mg/l

It will be about noon tomorrow before I can get spring water and do a water change. Will Mr. Froggy be ok til then? After killing the neons, I'm a bit sensitive here.

[PuppyFluffer]

It's awesome well water. I live moderately rural and there is a limestone base around here. I do have some calcium and lime in the water but not bad.

I think it would be perfectly fine for the tank except that I didn't start out with it, I started out with spring water. My concern is switching between them now.

[msjinkzd]

that is why i suggested small daily water changes in order to gently acclimate the frog to your well water, it will reduce stress from changes in water parameters

[PuppyFluffer]

But will a small change be ok with nitrite that high?

[msjinkzd]

wow, i am sorry, i completely missed the nitrite issue. You do need to do some changes to get that nitrite down, one idea would be to put the frog in a seperate container containing tank water, do a large volume water change on teh tank, and them acclimate the frog back to the tank gradually (adding small amounts of new water to the container the frog is in over a duration, like you would acclimate a new fish).

[PuppyFluffer]

I just had another question...but I think I've answered it.

I have two other tanks, both identical 1.66 gallon with a male betta in each. One is perfectly cycled. The other is not quite perfect yet.

Can I move the frog to the betta tank? I don't have a heater on it but it had a light in the hood and with the light on, the water is about 74-76 degrees. Can he go there tonight?

[msjinkzd]

you could try it, in a tank that size it may be hit or miss on how the betta reacts to a new tank mate. It could potentially also cause a spike in the cycled tank, although adf's have a low bioload, that is a small tank.

[PuppyFluffer]

How large a water change do you think it would take to get that nitrite down?

I assumed it was a 5 gallon tank but with gravel and a few artificial plants, it holds about 3.8 gallons I am guessing.

[PuppyFluffer]

I want to thank everyone for all the help!

I am going to get the kids to bed but will be back after to check on this thread!