water used for water changes

[snytiger_92]

I have a question concerning water changes. I would like to change my tank's water as often as some of you on this website (as much as 50% once per week). That is something I find relaxing work for me, and it benefits the fish as well.

Here's the problem: The city's tap water is extremely hard and has a very high pH. I don't like using it at all. So, I've tried my girlfriend's well-water. However, although this water has an abundance of nutrients, lower pH, and no chlorine, it contains high levels of nitrAtes. So, my question: is there any way I could just use R/O water and add nutirents from a store-bought bottle? Or is the high nitrAte levels not that big a deal if the tank is established?

Thanks!
DP

58 Gallon Community:
4 Panda Cories
1 Pearl Gourami
1 Pleco
2 African Dwarf Frogs
1 Red-Tailed Shark
1 Clown Loach (baby)
4 Rummy nose Tetras (by the way, if you know of place I can get more, please let me know - I love those little guys!)
3 Harlequin Rasboras
18 White cloud minnows - trying to find another home for them

 

[beviking]

Yes, they make products (like R/O Right) to add to R/O water (oddly enough!) to make it fish friendly. High nitrAtes are a big deal wether the tank is established or not.
Obviously you already have fish in mind or have fish that aren't fond of very hard water/high pH. There are fish that prefer the aforementioned.

 

[Harlock]

Our water is just as hard down here in San Angelo as it is for you guys in Odessa. Our water sucks out here in West Central Texas, what can you say? For what it's worth, I use the tap water. Sure, it has a general hardness of 420 and sure my pH is 7.8 on a good day, and sure I know there are chloramines in it; fact of the matter is, so long as I am changing it once a week, the fish are used to it. I use Prime to treat for chloramines and that's it. I had thought about mixing RO, but when it came down to it, it's just completely unnecessary. My plants and my fish are all healthy, happy and growing well. I hope that eases your mind some.

 

[RTR]

My water is only moderately hard, so I'm a tap user. If I wanted to breed blackwater fish, I'd use RO mixtures. If my water had high nitrate, I would use RO mixtures as well.