Kind of water to use for water changes

[talofaholbrook]

Where I live the water is very hard, we dont have a water softener, and it's got all sorts of bad things in it (according to my neighbors). I've been using filtered water that you'd buy at the supermarket and it's getting kind of expensive. There is a place by where I live that will fill your bottles with RO (reverse osmosis) water for free. Is RO water good to use in fish tanks. If so would I need to add anything to the water to make it good for my FW fish or can i just add it like I was adding the water I bought?

[jpappy789]

Is it safe to drink the tap water? If so, it is perfectly fine for fish. I have been using "liquid rock" (high hardness) water for a while now without harming any fish. Most of the captive bred strains are pretty adaptable, and you'll only run into problems with wild caught fish or possibly during breeding.

You can also try a mix of RO and tap. Pure RO is unhealthy for fish as it has no buffers and therefore is susceptible to large chemistry swings, and it also lacks the minerals, etc. necessary for fish.

[talofaholbrook]

Is it safe to drink the tap water? If so, it is perfectly fine for fish. I have been using "liquid rock" (high hardness) water for a while now without harming any fish. Most of the captive bred strains are pretty adaptable, and you'll only run into problems with wild caught fish or possibly during breeding.

You can also try a mix of RO and tap. Pure RO is unhealthy for fish as it has no buffers and therefore is susceptible to large chemistry swings, and it also lacks the minerals, etc. necessary for fish.
Yeah, it's safe to drink. Would there be a benefit to mixing the RO water or should I just stick with tap water. It's just I don't really like using chemicals to treat tap water so that it's safe for the fish.

[7itanium]

RO water would be just fine if you want to go that route

but personally.. I would just use tap water (with conditioner added.. I reccomend Prime)... my water is also very hard-- but its some of the best water for fish.. so that really doesnt mean much

[DoN_WoN]

my water is like 3 times as bad as urs, it killed everything in my tank, so i only have 2 betta tanks (5 gallon and 2.5 gallon) i use publix brand springwater, even with water condition it didn't work lolz... 85c a gallon isnt bad!

depending on ur tank size use springwater, my betta has been heathy and happy for 5 months and made many bubble nests!

[jpappy789]

Yeah, it's safe to drink. Would there be a benefit to mixing the RO water or should I just stick with tap water. It's just I don't really like using chemicals to treat tap water so that it's safe for the fish.
The only chemicals you need is a conditioner to remove the chlorine and chloramine.

RO water would be just fine if you want to go that route

but personally.. I would just use tap water (with conditioner added.. I reccomend Prime)... my water is also very hard-- but its some of the best water for fish.. so that really doesnt mean much
If you go with 100% RO though you need to supplement in order to get some mineral content back.

[sunshinetrenie]

i would just test the water straight from the tap... if its ok then just use it. no sense in buying something u dont really need.

[BettaFishMommy]

my local water supply is high ph (7.8 to be exact), high chlorine, high chloramine, and high in heavy metals. i use it in my tank, and use a dechlorinator that neutralizes the chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals (i use Aquaplus by Hagen), and i use just a touch more than prescribed on the bottle. my fish, snails, and plants are thriving.

more than likely the fish were bought from a local lfs? i betcha they use the local tap water in their tanks.

many municipalities will have some sort of access to the readings/quality for your local water. maybe call up your utility company (the one that bills for water usage) and find out how you would acquire this info.

[tigerbarb88]

What if you use water from the hose outside? is it the same as "tap" water?

just wondering.

[BettaFishMommy]

if you are in a city or town, the hose on the side of your house is exactly the same water that comes out of your sink faucet.

[altabc]

If you would like to use a hose (and I certainly do) I would reccomend that you visit an area in your local hardware store that sells stuff for R.V.s. They sell "white" hoses for potable water. If it's good enough for me, it's good enough for the fish.

[BettaFishMommy]

good advice, as some regular garden hoses are treated on the inside to resist mildew and such, and those chemicals are not good for your fish, or you. now i know why my dad always said it wasn't a good idea to drink from the hose.

[Cluunox]

One thing if your water is softened the out side water is usually not inline with the softener. If that would make a difference to you may want to check it.

[tigerbarb88]

if you are in a city or town, the hose on the side of your house is exactly the same water that comes out of your sink faucet.

crazy! i always thought the water from the sink or faucet was healthier than from the water hose outside. :eek: guess you learn something new every day :thm:


If you would like to use a hose (and I certainly do) I would reccomend that you visit an area in your local hardware store that sells stuff for R.V.s. They sell "white" hoses for potable water. If it's good enough for me, it's good enough for the fish.

Good advice. I may just do this instead of using the sink faucet for each water change. It becomes a hassle sometimes.