what is the truth about adding tap to tank
- Thread starter charles-n-charge
- Start date
I just run a hose to my tank. The water is already de-chlorinated fully, and its perfectly fine to add. I've been doing this for two years without any deaths during water changes. Actually, I've only had about 4 deaths since I started doing this, and they were stunted fish. 
I run my filter pads under tap water before I put them in the filter? I use tap water for water changes too then I put some conditioner in there. whats wrong with that lol? my fish are still healthy as ever
Okay, couple things folks. The toxicity of chlorine/chloramine is proportionate to the amount of water...if you put less than 10%, the volume will dilute the chlorine into harmless concentrations. Chlorine is BAD, there's a reason they use it as a poison gas. Don't force your fish to tolerate it... I always add conditioner when I'm doing WCs, I add it to the tank right before I start filling.
RO water is terrible for freshwater tanks, and Di/RO (de-ionized) is even worse. Why? Because it has no buffer, no minerals...using pure RO in freshwater is asking for a deadly Ph crash. If you need really pure water of lower mineral content, like for rays and discus, usually you mix 50/50 with tap water.
Marine is a different story, tap water is full of nutrients and chemical crap that may cuase algae blooms and other issues. Your salt mix contains the natural elements that re-buffer the water.
RO water is terrible for freshwater tanks, and Di/RO (de-ionized) is even worse. Why? Because it has no buffer, no minerals...using pure RO in freshwater is asking for a deadly Ph crash. If you need really pure water of lower mineral content, like for rays and discus, usually you mix 50/50 with tap water.
Marine is a different story, tap water is full of nutrients and chemical crap that may cuase algae blooms and other issues. Your salt mix contains the natural elements that re-buffer the water.
... and the level (mg/l) of chlorine/chloramine coming out of each persons tap.
Which is precisely why some people can perform large water changes sans conditioners, and others attempting the same thing would end up with a tank full of dead fish.
As far as discus, the fish below were raised in local tap water with a pH of 8.0
Freakin awesome fish slash pics.
I always treat each bucket before adding to tank and let it sit a min or so before adding. Prolly overkill a lil.
I always treat each bucket before adding to tank and let it sit a min or so before adding. Prolly overkill a lil.
With regards to water conditioners, some of you may find this past discussion interesting.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309623
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309623
