Very hard water (18+ °GH/300+ ppm) While most fish are able to adapt to higher or lower degrees of hardness, it is always best to match the species of fish to the parameters of the tank Most African cichlids will thrive in very hard water conditions as well, along with some cichlids from Central America
Is hard well water safe for fish?
Most aquarium fish will adapt to moderately hard to hard water provided they are acclimated properly Ask your local aquarium shop about the hardness and pH in their tanks and compare it to the water in your aquarium The greater the difference, the more gradually fish should be acclimated when you bring them home
What aquarium fish do well in hard water?
These include: Livebearers such as Guppies, Mollies, Platies, and Swordtails Paradise Fish African and some Central American Cichlids
Does well water hurt fish?
“We can kill fish with well water that’s perfectly good to drink,” said Dr Billy Higginbotham, Extension fisheries and wildlife specialist Even during a normal summer, the most likely cause of fish death is oxygen depletion, Higginbotham said
What is the best water to use in a fish tank?
Ordinary tap water is fine for filling up the aquarium as long as you let it sit for several days before adding fish (the chlorine in the tap water will kill the fish)
How hard should aquarium water be?
Ideally, freshwater aquariums have a GH between 4-8 dGH (or 70-140 ppm) All animals need some minerals, but certain fish like livebearers, goldfish, and African cichlids prefer higher GH levels If you’re trying to breed discus or other soft water fish, you may need to reduce the GH to 3 dGH (or 50 ppm) or below
Do Bettas do well in hard water?
Moderately hard water (6-12 °GH/100-200 ppm) This range of general hardness is preferred by most species of tropical fish This includes most livebearers, like mollies and platies, and is the optimal range for betta fish Hard water (12-18 °GH/200-300 ppm)
Can goldfish tolerate hard water?
Goldfish can tolerate a wide range of water chemistry, including both soft and hard water
Does hard water affect tropical fish?
Fish from areas where the water is roughly neutral are fairly adaptable and will tolerate most conditions, providing they’re not too extreme – but fish from very soft, acidic water (acidophiles), or very hard alkaline water (alkalophiles) won’t tolerate conditions at the other end of the scale
How long does it take for well water to be safe for fish?
Well water usually has little or no oxygen but often contains high levels of dissolved carbon dioxide and nitrogen As such, well water should always be aerated (approximately 24 hours) before coming in contact with fish
Does well water need to be treated for fish?
Municipal water is typically treated with chlorine and can sometimes have additives like fluoride, and can require the dosing of special solutions to make the water habitable for fish Well water directly from the ground does not have any chlorine added to it
Does well water have chlorine?
Is Well Water Good for You? Private well owners do not have their water treated with chlorine or chloramines from the local water utility company Because well water is not treated with chemicals designed to deal with organic contaminants, well water carries a higher risk of bacterial or viral infection
Is water softener water safe for aquariums?
Domestic water softeners do not produce soft water usable in an aquarium All they do is replace limescale-forming minerals with minerals that don’t form limescale This is fine for washing machines and dishwashers, but bad for fish tanks
Is it OK to use spring water in a fish tank?
One possible alternative to tap water is spring water Spring water is useful if you need to lower the pH or the hardness of your aquarium’s water It is best to buy several different brands in the beginning and test each of them for pH, kH, and gH before picking the one that matches the preferences of your fish
Can you use bottled water for fish tank?
For example, some bottled water still needs chlorine removed And because bottled water is designed for us to drink, it is often considerably more expensive than just using distilled water I only recommend using bottled water as fish tank water in an emergency, when nothing else is available
Can neon tetras live in hard water?
Hardness of between 2 and 10 degrees dH is recommended Although soft water is undoubtedly favorable for neon tetras, these fish can manage in medium-hard water if it is of a high grade For reproductive purposes, neon tetras require pH levels of no more than 65, also with extremely minimal hardness
Does water conditioner lower hardness?
Unlike a water softener, a water conditioner does not remove hardness particles from your water supply It “conditions” water and changes the chemistry of the particles for a certain amount of time to keep it from building up “Water conditioner” is a broad term for a wide variety of products and technologies
How do I lower the hardness in my aquarium?
How to lower aquarium GH – decrease hardness Reverse Osmosis/Deionized water (RO/DI) If you need to lower your GH every time you perform a water change, an RO/DI system is your best bet Distilled water Distilled water is essentially water that has been turned into steam then collected Peat moss
Do betta fish prefer hard or soft water?
It’s made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) It will slowly leach both calcium and carbonate into your water, increasing both the general hardness (GH) and carbonate hardness (KH) of the water It will also increase the pH Bettas need soft, acidic water
How do I lower the pH and hardness in my aquarium?
How to Lower pH in aquariums: Use reverse osmosis (RO) or deionized (DI) water to create the desired pH and provide buffering Always prepare water and test pH before adding it to your aquarium Decorate your aquarium with natural driftwood Add peat moss or peat pellets to your filter
Do fancy goldfish prefer hard or soft water?
Goldfish are cold water fish, meaning that they do not require a heater Goldfish prefer their water between 62 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit Also, goldfish do well in soft water, meaning its alkalinity is higher than its acidity A goldfish thrives when their water’s pH is between 70 and 74
What water hardness do goldfish need?
General Hardness (GH) Low traces of dissolved minerals indicate that the aquarium water is soft While goldfish do fine in both hard and soft water, 200 to 400ppm might be ideal
What hardness Do goldfish like?
Generally speaking the spectrum between 74 and 79 is ideal for most Goldfish Ideally the level of carbonate hardness in your aquarium should be kept at 120ppm Carbonate Hardness is the level of Carbonate and Bicarbonate in the water