Are you an aquarist and want to know what is the best water for aquarium? Well, that should be interesting question. As a die-hard aquarium fan myself, I have tested several water sources for my aquarium. Based on my experiences and experiments, I finally zeroed in on the best water for my aquarium. Want to know the secret? Read on to know more.
While every type of water comes with its own Pros and Cons, Reverse Osmosis water can be the right option for most of the aquariums. You can use any other form of purified water, but avoid tap water or well water. It can quite contaminated and may not be suitable.
Different Water Sources and Their effect On Aquarium Fish
Let us analyse different types of water and their effect on the aquarium fish.
| Water Source | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tap Water | readily available, inexpensive | can contain chlorine, chloramine, and other contaminants | most fish, if treated properly |
| Well Water | untreated, may contain beneficial minerals | quality varies by location, can be hard, may contain harmful contaminants | some fish, if tested and treated properly |
| Bottled Spring Water | readily available, no chlorine or chloramine | can be expensive, may not contain enough minerals | small aquariums, if spring water |
| Distilled Water | pure, no minerals | lacks essential minerals for fish | not recommended for aquariums |
| Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water | pure, removes chlorine and chloramine, can be adjusted to desired mineral content | requires an RO unit, can be expensive | most fish, if remineralized |
| Softened Water | removes hardness minerals | can be unstable, may lack essential minerals | not recommended for most fish |
| Rainwater | natural, free | can be contaminated with pollutants, requires treatment | not recommended for most aquariums |
| Natural Waterways | contains natural bacteria and microorganisms | highly contaminated with pollutants, parasites, and diseases | not recommended for aquariums |
Tap Water
Most of the aquarium owners fill their tanks with tap water. If your tap water is certified to be safe for you and your pets, it should be safer for your fish as well. In fact, you should be able to make the tap water safe for your pets by following some specific methods.
The key is to remove the chlorine and chloramine from the tap water. Chlorine is highly toxic to fish and has been one of the primary reasons for the death of the fish.
Well water
Well water and its quality can vary across the region. If you are using well water for your aquarium, it is advisable to get the water tested once every year. Well water is typically not treated with chlorine, but the quality of water may be different at different locations.
If you are using well water for the aquarium, make sure that it is aerated for at least 24 hours. It may contain high hardness and lower oxygen levels. It is always a good idea to make the water free from hardness before using it in the aquarium.
Bottled water
If you have a very small aquarium, bottled water can be an excellent option. However, remember that not every bottled water is similar. Check the labelling on your bottled water. The bottled water tends to come with different configurations which include Spring, Distilled or filtered water.
Distilled water is never good option for fish. If you are using bottled water for your aquarium, make sure that the water belongs to the spring water category. Remember that you may come across bottled fish water at the pet shops. Never ever fall for the trap. There is nothing like bottled fish water.
Distilled water
Like we already stated, never use distilled water for your fish tank. Distilled water is produced after a series of heating and cooling. This removesmost of the minerals and other beneficial elements from the water.
The distilled water will be quite bland and may not have the necessary minerals. That would make the fish starve from the lack of the necessary minerals.
Reverse Osmosis water
Reverse Osmosis water or RO water is the best water for your aquarium. The RO water does contain the minerals needed by the fish, but it does not contain the chlorine and other contaminants.
However, when you use RO water in your aquarium, make sure that the water additives are added to adjust the pH value of the water.
Softened water
Softened water is the one that has the minerals causing hardness are removed. Some fish and plants may thrive well in softened water. However, for long term usage and for most of the fish, it may not be the best water to be used.
Rainwater
Rainwater should ideally be the best and natural source of water for your fish. However, it can get contaminated by the components in the atmosphere. It is always advisable to treat the rainwater before using it in your aquarium.
The issue with rainwater is you need rains. If you live in an area that does not receive rain, this may not be an option at all. If you collect the water collected from the roof, it may contain contaminants such as asbestos, sand or grit.
Natural waterways
Do you have the natural water sources near you such as river, lake or spring? You might also have seen thee fish living therein. So, is that the best water to use in an aquarium? No, it isn’t. It is one of the most contaminated water you would find.
The fish therein are the ones that have generations of them adapted to the water. Using this water for your aquarium will be quite dangerous for your fish. Even when the water may look quite clean, it does contain toxic industrial and agricultural chemicals. If not industrial waste, thee waterways like rivers and lakes may contain fungi, bacteria, viruses and parasites. They can be quite detrimental for the aquarium fish.
Why is Reverse Osmosis so Effective for Aquariums?
The Reverse Osmosis water is best suited for Aquarium fish because it produces the purest form of water. This type of water is safe for most of the fish and aquatic plants. RO systems remove most of the contaminants from water.
The list of contaminants that RO can remove from water can include
- Heavy metals
- Nitrates
- Phosphates
- Chlorine
- Buffers
- Bacteria
- Up to 99% of dissolved solids
- Chemicals like fluoride
Can You Use Spring Water for Your Fish Tank?
Yes, spring water can be used for aquarium fish. However, it is important to treat it before using it in your aquarium. Using bottled spring water may also be a concern as it may or may not contain the necessary minerals.
However, if the spring water is in its purest form, it should be a good option to use in a fish tank.
The Concluding Thoughts
You are still in dilemma in finding the right source of water for your aquarium? Reverse Osmosis water should be the best water for your aquarium fish. Even then, it is highly recommended to treat the water before you can use it in your aquarium. You can also check out the aquarium water test strips.
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