Tap Water or Bottled Water?

R

RacerFish

Large Fish
#1
Oct 22, 2002
127
0
0
#1
Hi, i'm still beginning my tank, and was wondering would it be benefacial if i used bottled water to fill up my tank or is tap water just as fine? because I really don't know anything about what the water conditions should be, and i really don't understand all the water condition complexities. So maybe if i used bottled water, i would'nt have any problems in the future, would my fish getting sick because of the water...ok.
any help would be good.

-FishCrazy
 

C

colesea

Superstar Fish
#2
Oct 22, 2002
1,612
0
0
NY USA
#2
Actually you'll probably have more water chemistry problems using bottled water than you would tap water. Not to mention the cost of always buying bottled water for a large volume tank. Bottle water chemistry may be different from brand to brand as well as from bottle to bottle within a brand. With tap water, usually the conditions are pretty stable and you'd just need to use a dechlorinator.

The best thing you can do for yourself is invest the $2 for a decent tap water conditioner (NovAqua, Stress Coat, Aqua Plus, AP Tap Water Conditioner etc to name a few).  At it to your tap water before you put that water into your tank and you should have no problems.

The other thing you would do wise to invest in would be a basic aquarium handbook. Dick Mill's -You and Your Aquarium- has a wonderful chapter all on water chemistry and how to maintain the water you need. The language is very simply and easy to understand, so you don't have to be a chemist to know what he's talking about. Understanding water chemistry and water quality is the most important part of maintaning a healthy fish tank.

Oh, and pick yourself up some Ammonia and pH test kits. The pamphlets inside will explain to you what the test results mean as well as any adjustments back to proper conditions that would need to be made. The practice of testing your water chemistry will help you become familiar with fish chemical requirements.
~~Colesea
 

T

Troy-N-Eli

Large Fish
#5
Oct 22, 2002
191
0
0
#5
While the other replys are true, it really depends on your tap water.  We have heard the stories about people who use tap water and it's great that it works for them.  However, our tap water calcified EVERYTHING.  We had a total disaster on our hands, especially when the pH went through the roof.  Thank goodness we were trying to get a cycle going without fish at the time.

Like we said, the tap water works for others, but our personal experience has been that bottled spring water is best for us.  The fish are indeed thriving and we have not had any problems for some time.  Not claiming to be an expert or anything, but sharing personal experience that might be helpful, we hope.
 

R

RacerFish

Large Fish
#6
Oct 22, 2002
127
0
0
#6
*thumbsupsmiley* Yes..i understand their are some really nasty tap water just from the taste. For example, when i went to florida, i could'nt stand tasting their tap water, it tasted like toothpaste or something was really bland.
I live in western washington, does anyone know anything about the tap water here? is it good for fish or not?
 

H

honeybee105

Medium Fish
#8
Oct 22, 2002
84
0
0
www.expage.com
#8
I've had the same question. I live in a suburb where the water is unbelievably nasty. It tastes like metal and rust. So i use bottled water and put a de-clorinator in it. I used to live in a very rual part of Maine where the water was really clean, I used to have a 15 gallon and the water there was really fresh from the tap, so I could put it right in the tank. I agree with JWright, have your water tested at a local fish store just to be sure. Good luck ;)
 

R

ronrca

Guest
#9
#9

My tap water isnt the best either. It is moderatly hard and pH goes thru the roof after 3 days. However, I still keep discus. I keep control of the pH by adding C02. Otherwise it is fine.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.