Well water questions

[Sumpin'fishy]

I have well water that I'd like to use (and have placed a Betta and 4 Ghost Shrimp into to check it out). I tested it's parameters: 0 Ammo, 0 Nitrite, 0 Nitrate, about 6.0 (low as my test kit goes) pH, 0.6 KH. I figured I'd add it to a large vase (called a hurricane lantern) which holds about 2 gallons of water add some sand, gravel, and river rocks, and try it out with fish. I let it settle for 2 days to test the pH/KH. This is being done as a test case for later use. If it works out Ok, I can house fish that like acid water with little problems.

Quick question: Do I need to add anything (absolutely need to!) to get minerals right for the fish/plants? I would add small amounts of trace minerals later for plants if I use them, but without CO2 usage (since KH is so low). I hear many times about "trace minerals" and the like for fish to thrive. I'm trying to create some natural, "bio-typical" setups later and would like to know if I need to add anything back to the water, like you do for R/O water.

Any other problems/ topics you'd like to enlighten me to?

 

[wetmanNY]

You might get a low-end pH kit, because the pH may be quite a bit lower than 6.0. Your mid-range test simply runs out at that point, so you haven't really been able to test at all.

Does your well water ever have a slight sulfur smell to it? Do you get brown stains on sinks and toilets?

The only trace you might add, is a tablespoon of crushed coral mixed in with the gravel --you won't be filtering your hurricane vase, eh-- to stabilize the pH a little above 6.0. I'd also recommend some peatwater to chelate the minerals that are probably already there. Your acid-tolerant fish will appreciate some tannins.

Acid groundwater with low oxygen tends to "dissolve out" iron and other nutrients. Go easy on ferrtilizer regimes that may be aimed at much more alkaline systems.

 

[Sumpin'fishy]

I would like to get a low end pH kit. Maybe I'll pick one up this week. I also have both tap and well water. The well water doesn't run into the house so I have to go to the pump outside to get that water. My tap pH is 7.7 with a KH of 5.4. I have 3 tanks going with tap water and would use this water for anything having CO2 injected, but I wanted to try some acid setups for a change. Thanks for the input and I'll check further on the pH and maybe add some Crushed Coral later if needed.

 

[Cloud-9]

Your well water is not likely to be as pure as RO water or deionized water. I don't think you would need to add anything to reconstitute your well water.

I second the previous message in advising you to get a low range ph test kit. Re-test once you get the new kit.

 

[ChilDawg]

Point of clarification: Reconstitution implies that the water has been deconstitued (changed) and then changed partially or completely back to the original parameters. The well water could not be reconstituted unless it was altered prior to the addition of chemicals.