Can I Use Tap Water In My Fish Tank?

Fish are among the easiest pets to take care of. You simply purchase a tank, add some water, add a few fish, and feed them. Sounds pretty simple huh? It does sound simple but there are a few factors that can complicate things. You want to be sure you choose fish that can live together in the same tank, feed them the right food, and it’s very important that the water provides the right climate. This water can come from a variety of sources, including ordinary tap water.

Now, there are those people out in the world that feel tap water is horrendous and they certainly won’t drink it, let alone put fish inside it. I mean, it’s full of all kinds of chemicals and things that are harmful to me, right? They’d be harmful to the fish, too – right? Umm.. that would be “no” and “no”.

Let’s take a look at the basics of how that water should be in a Freshwater Tropical Fish Community tank. The temperature of the water should range from 72-82ºF with a pH ranging from 6.5-7.5. The nitrates should be <50 ppm and the ammonia and nitrates are best at zero. The water’s hardness should be 4-12GH. Each of these parameters should be balanced with one another. If you use tap water you might have to add some conditioner to it in order to reach this goal. If your tap water comes from a well it might already be balanced so you should always check these levels before adding any fish to the tank.

You shouldn’t have any trouble finding these conditioners at well stocked pet or fish supply store. The fast acting ones can be added to the water as you are adding your fish to the tank. These conditioners are perfectly safe for the fish. It won’t make them ill or cause them harm, either physically or mentally. Make sure that any product you choose contains a chlorine remover or dechlorinator because it’s the chlorine in the tap water that causes most of the problems. Phosphates, pesticides, and copper are also commonly found in tap water. These substances will have to be countered with some kind of balancing agent that are typically found at any store and are sold in a tablet form. If any of these substances are present in the water in levels that are too high, stress or other ailments can develop. In most cases, tap water is reasonably balanced and is fine for your fish.

There are other sources for aquarium water other than the tap, including distilled water, rainwater, and reverse osmosis water. The main problem with collecting rainwater is the risk of also collecting pollutants and debris. It is an especially bad idea in areas that frequently experience acid rain. While using RO water might sound like a good idea, it’s really not. You see, drinking purified water is great for humans, but rather bad for fish. You would have to remineralize and oxygenate the water in order to maintain the right chemical and organic balance.

Feed your fish, keep their climate right, and fill the tank with water that is balanced so there will never be any issues when it comes to the health of your fish.

About the author:
April Levine is an aquarist with years of experience in keeping tropical fish. She maintains many fish tanks full of the rarest tropical fish in the world.

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