Should I Use Tap Water In My Fish Bowl?
Fish can be some of the easiest animals to take care of. You buy a tank, throw a bit of water in, add fish and feed. Pretty simple, isn't it? Of course, there are a few things that make it a little more complicated. You want fish that can get along together in the same tank, you need to assure you're feeding the pretty little floaties the proper food and, most importantly, you need to make sure that the water is perfect for their climate. Water can come from several sources, including good old-fashioned 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".
We're going to look first at some of the basics of what the water should be like in a Freshwater Tropical Community tank. The temperature range should be from 72-82ºF and the pH from 6.5-7.5. Nitrates and ammonia you want at zero and nitrate should be <50 ppm. Generally the hardness of the water should be 4-12GH. All of these parameters need to be balanced with each other. When using tap water, you will need to add a conditioner to aid you in making this goal. If your tap is from a well it may be balanced to begin with, so it is wise to always check these readings in the water before putting in the tank with fish.
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.
Other alternatives for fishbowl or aquarium water include RO or reverse osmosis water, distilled water, or rainwater. The main problem with collecting rainwater is the various debris and pollutants that may be found in the water. While collecting rainwater might sound like a good idea, it's really not. The problem with RO or distilled water is that the water is nearly pure with absolutely no additives. While this is good for humans, its not so good for fish. With either of the latter options you would need to remineralize and oxygenate the water so the proper organic and chemical balance is maintained.
Make sure you feed your fish, give them a comfy home, and use well balanced water. When you do this, you shouldn't run into any issues with your fish in regards to your health.
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.
