Wierd Question

[Emaan]

My father has suggested (more or less told me) that I should use creek water for my water changes instead of tap. When I use tap I put in a cleaner to remove the chlorine and he says that it hurts the fish more than helping them. He was also telling me that creek water is already cycled so there should be no problems with using it. He said that when had his tank set up that's what he used. I just want the opinion of others who have tanks already as to whether this would be a good idea or a bad one. I don't want to hurt my fish at all.

Emaan

 

[simbadda]

hmm new to this myself but this is my opinion.


Tap water cleaner is designed to be better for your fish. If this product did not do that, the fish stores wouldn't sell it in such large quantities, and everyone here who does use it, would all have dead fish or something o0.

From what I understand from creek water, it can have just as much polutants in it, and cause a load of different problems, especially for fish that are not native to your area.


but let's hear it from the vets =)

 

[Emaan]

Thanks, that's kind of what I was thinking. I'm worried about introducing a disease that my fish are not used to as well as small parasites that may live in the creek water.

Emaan

 

[125gJoe]

I'd be safe and use 'de-chlorinated' tap water - at the proper temperature. I'm not sure what creek you might use but, I do know heavy bacteria can exist in creeks, lakes, ponds... Sounds like a disaster to me.

 

[Emaan]

Thanks Joe. I think I will stick to the dechlorinated tap water.

Emaan

 

[cattlegrid_79]

How can the water be "cycled"? The process of cycling is to establish a biofilter, usually within the filter media in your tank. The water itself carries very few filtration capabilities.

Plus, we know what is in our tap water (well, most of it anyway!!!) and without testing your creek water, you wouldn't know what you could be introducing to the tank, or the parameters of the water.

 

[RobUK]

Nature (creeks, rivers, marshs, etc) is just one huge bio system so if you think of the earth as a huge fish tank it is cycled as otherwise there would be no fish in the seas/lakes at all due to the amount of amonia etc they would have released in the millions of years they've been there.

But yes no a good idea, I was using water from a crystal clear pond and that was a disaster. The water is full of parasites and deiseases that allthough Coldwater fish may be immune to or even carry without harm, tropical fish may be killed/injured by.

Overcourse surly the best place to get water from would be a natural spring, but how many of us live near one of those or can afford 40g of bottled stuff when it comes to a water change

 

[Emaan]

Thanks for all of your help and suggestions. I do happen to live not far from a natural spring. I might just try to go there this weekend to get some water for my change. I really appreciate all of the posts.

Emaan