Water is the essence of life. And it becomes all the more important to care for the quality of water if you have an aquarium. One of the most challenging tasks when it comes to handling and maintaining an aquarium is maintaining the quality of water and making it safe for fish. At least for me – an aquarist for the last two to three years, the real task is how to make tap water safe for fish.
The best way to make tap water safe for fish tank is to use a water conditioner in your fish tank. But, not everyone may be keen to install a water conditioner. If you are looking to make tap water safe for fish without conditioner, you can aerate the water with the air stone, or using dechlorinator. These can remove Chlorine and chloramine making the water safe for fish.
How to Make Tap Water Safe for Fish without Conditioner?
You can make tap water safe for fish by using several techniques which include using a carbon filter or opting for the reverse osmosis process. You can also add Vitamin C. It may also be a good idea to boil the water to make it safe for your fish.
Let us analyze and understand each of the methods that make it comfortable to use tap water for the aquarium.
| Method | Description | Time | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Let the water sit | Allow the tap water to sit. Chlorine and chloramine will evaporate | Minimum 24 Hours | Not much effective |
| Boil the water | Boil the water to make chlorine and chloramine evaporate | Around 20 minutes | Faster, but you need to cool the water before adding to aquarium |
| Use UV light | Use UV light steriliser to remove contaminants | 24 hours | Fast and effective, but expensive |
| Reverse Osmosis | Add water treated with Reverse Osmosis | Faster | Highly effective, but may be expensive |
| Faucet filter | Use a faucet filter to remove chlorine, chloramine and other heavy metals | Faster | Best for chemical free operation |
| Vitamin C | Use Vitamin C tablets to dechlorinate water | Faster | Quick and easy |
Method 1 – Use a Carbon filter
A carbon filter is an excellent option to make tap water safe without the expensive conditioner. Even when you have a filter in the aquarium, it cannot remove the Chlorine. The Chlorine can lead to death and that is why a carbon filter would be an excellent option to remove Chlorine.
In addition to Chlorine, the activated carbon in the carbon filter can absorb a whole lot of toxins from the water. You can either use a carbon box air filter or the one that uses a granular carbon layer.
Method 2 – Use Reverse Osmosis
If filtration is important, the Reverse Osmosis can be the other best choice. In fact, my experience has shown that Reverse Osmosis should be the best option for purifying tap water. It simply makes the water flow through a semipermeable membrane to remove the impurities contained in the water.
Reverse Osmosis as a process can remove chloramine, heavy metallic nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate, and minerals and salts. It will also help prevent the extensive algae growth and help in keeping the aquarium tank clean.
Method 3 – Add Vitamin C
Another efficient method to neutralize Chlorine is to use Vitamin C or Ascorbic acid. During water treatment, Chlorine is added to disinfect the water. Once that is done, water purification systems use Vitamin C to remove the excess Chlorine from water to make water safe for consumption.
You can use Vitamin C to remove Chlorine and chloramine from water. The method can also remove the hazardous chemicals, bacteria and other parasites from water.
Method 4 – Boil the water
Boiling the water is yet another capable option to help you make tap water safe for fish tank without conditioner or chemicals. Heating the water helps in aerating it. The proper amount of aeration will help in removing the Chlorine which gets evaporated.
It should ideally take less than 20 minutes to remove Chlorine from tap water by boiling it. However, make sure that you have allowed enough time for the water to cool down to the normal temperature before adding it to the aquarium. You do not want to burn your fish, do you?
It is recommended to boil the water for a minimum specific time for better results. If you are boiling 10 gallons of water, make sure to boil it for 10 minutes. If it is more than 10 gallons, opt for a boiling period of 15 to 20 minutes. Cool the water before you can move it to the fish tank.
Method 5 – Use UV light to improve the quality of water
The next best method that can help remove Chlorine and other contaminants from the water can be to use UV light. This is yet another good option to make water safe for your fish without chemicals. The phenomenon is similar to how sun rays neutralize the chlorine levels in the water bodies.
However, from a practical point of view, using UV light may not be the best option because of the enormous cost associated.
Use an ultraviolet lamp or a lighting system which produces a minimum of 254 nm wavelength along with no less than a 600ml density. This intensity of ultraviolet light has the capability to dechloriante the water and even kill the other microorganisms in the tap water.
Method 6 – Age the water before using it in the aquarium
Aging the tap water is also used as an effective option to clean the tap water and to make your tap water safe for the fish. Leave the water to sit for a few days or weeks. The thought behind this method is when the tap water is allowed to sit, it will eventually lose Chlorine.
Under ideal conditions for the Chlorine to leave the water, make sure to leave it undisturbed for at least 24 hours. The time taken to remove Chlorine would be dependent on the amount of water you want to treat and the amount of Chlorine it has.
Why is Tap Water Bad for Fish?
Tap water is bad for fish because it consists of chemicals that may be harmful for fish. These chemicals include Chlorine, chloramine and lead. You may also find the iron in the tap water. Chlorine and chloramine are used for cleaning and disinfecting the water. Chlorine is extremely bad for fish and should be completely removed.
Chlorine and chloramine is can result in a severe issue with the immune system of the fish. The excess amount of Chlorine can cause the gills of the fish to get damaged. The damage can further move to the entire body.
What Does Tap Water Contain?
Tap water contains a lot of chemicals which include Chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals and other contaminants. That is why it is quite harmful for fish. The high pH levels in the water can be another prime reason why your tap water needs to be treated before adding it to the aquarium.
The different chemicals and contaminants that you may find in tap water can include
Chlorine
Chlorine is extremely harmful for fish. It can cause acute necrosis. It can cause respiratory issues and end up killing the fish through asphyxiation. In addition to the direct harmful effects, fish can also have health issues due to stress caused by changes in the water conditions.
Some Chlorine related issues with Chlorine can include
- Pale mucus on scales
- Erratic swimming behavior
- Redness in different parts of the body
- Gasping for air at the surface of the water
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
Chloramine
Chloramine is more harmful than Chlorine. It can remain in tap water for an extended period of time than Chlorine. This is what makes it difficult and challenging to remove. Chloramine makes the fish struggle to take oxygen.
The signs of chloramine related issues can include
- Redness of grills
- Erratic swimming
- Stress
Improper pH Levels
Fish tanks require specific pH levels. The right pH levels you need will essentially be dependent on the fish that you have in your aquarium. The typical pH level that we would recommend will be in the range of 6.8 to 7.6.
The incorrect pH level can have the following health conditions –
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Red or cloudy eyes
- Gasping at the surface of the water
- Redness of the grills
- Angelfish: 6.0 to 7.0
- Clown loach: 6.0 to 6.5
- Goldfish: 7.0 to 7.5
- Harlequin rasbora: 6.0 to 6.5
- Hatchetfish: 6.0 to 7.0
- Neon tetra: 5.8 to 6.2
- Plecostomus: 5.0 to 7.0
- Silver dollar: 6.0 to 7.0
- Tiger barb: 6.0 to 6.5
- Zebra danio: 6.5 to 7.0
Heavy Metals
Tap water sometimes includes heavy metals. They can be dangerous for fish.
Some of the heavy metals in the tap water would include
Iron – Iron is lethal even in small quantities. Anything between 0.1 to 10 ppm is quite toxic. It can result in issues such as
- Suffocation
- Gill tissue swelling
- Mucous secretion
Copper – Even when copper is used for killing the parasites of the fish, it can get equally harmful for the fish in your tank. Copper can kill the beneficial bacteria in your fish tank. This can adversely affect the health of your tankmates.
Zinc – Zinc in high concentration can make the fish get annoyed and develop health issues. Zinc can destroy the gill tissues. It can even cause stress.
The Closing Thoughts
Well, if you receive tap water and are forced to use tap water in your aquarium, maybe it is high time you need to check the options to make it safer for fish. There are several methods to help in making the water safer for fish. While elite aquarists use options such as water conditioners, not everyone can use them. The other methods outlined in the above discussion should prove to be handy.
Can You Put Fish In A Tank Without A Water Conditioner?
You should never place your fish in a water that is sourced from the tap. We would recommend treating the water before adding it to the aquarium. They can cause harm to your fish.
Is Bottled Water Okay For Fish?
Bottled water can be safe for fish if it consists of an average pH balance, and hardness levels. Bottled water may also have most of the essential elements removed.
Is Spring water safe for fish?
Treated and tested water from spring should be an excellent option for fish in your aquarium. However, if the spring water is untreated, it may be harmful for the fish.
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