My tank has been running for 19 days can I change the water with bottled water??

Question

I feel as if my tap water is danger to my fish, if is VERY soft.

Answer 1

Have your mom take care of it

Answer 2

Did you run the filter for at least 3 days BEFORE putting the fish in it? If you waited the appropriate time before putting the fish into the tap water they should be fine. The filter will continuously clean and purify the water. You shouldn't actually "change" the water. Just add a gallon of bottled water (perhaps once a month) as the level gets low, thus forgoing the chlorine and other problems of tap water.

I always begin my new fish in a 10 gallon tank of bottled water. I still allow the filter to do it's job though. Newly purchased fish are placed into those plastic bags for transport, those bags only hold about 20 minutes of healthy air. So rush the fish home to their new envirnonment.

The filter is charcoal activated, so it is making sure the water is safe. Watch for cloudy water. You may need to add a water clarifier. Very cheap, about $2. Add ONE drop per gallon of water. Wait 24 hours, if the water isn't significantly clearer then repeat the ONE drop measure.

Also, how many fish do you have? What size tank? What type of fish?

A 10 gallon tank can foster about 10 small goldfish very healthily. Once they begin to grow you either get a larger tank (if they all survive, newborn goldfish are not hearty, you will lose some).

Within days to weeks you may lose some weaker fish. In about 3 months time the stronger ones will survive. Regardless of all your care, fish of all types will be lost for various reasons.

A novice fish tank owner will loose fish, that is just a fact.

Answer 3

Get a large pitcher and fill it with tap water. Leave it set out overnight. This will cause the chlorine to evaporate, making the water more pure and less dangerous to your fish. Replace the water the next day. Since the water is now room temperature from sitting out, it should be the same temperature as that in the fish's bowl. My mom has done this for years and our fish have lived a long time.

Answer 4

Get a quality water conditioner like Seachem's Prime. It will remove chlorine, chloramines, and detoxify ammonia and nitrite to some degree. Of note, chloramine is ammonia bonded with chlorine. This compound doesn't gas out easily and needs to be neutralized with a water conditioner.

Change 20-25% of the water volume weekly. Using bottled water won't hurt, but neither will tap water if treated properly. Using the appropiate test kits, verify the water hardness of your source water and tank water to know for sure if there is a significant difference. Also find out what type of water is best for the type of fish you have. Some species thrive in soft water.

Answer 5

You could.. I done that once during a fish emergency.
If your tap water is harmful, do this: take a bucket of water. Well, if your tank is say, 20 gallons, take like 10 gallons. I say take half of the tank, even though only clean out 25%. Set the water for about 3 days. Or you could buy tap water treater and treat the water before putting it into your fishtank. For me, I leave it out 3 days, then treat it right before replenishing the water that I tool out.

Answer 6

buy at least two buckets with cover. then put tap water in the bucket then let it sit for 24-36 hours then cover it. but distilled water will be alright as long as there is no chlorine in it.... good luck

Answer 7

Treat your tap wather with a product called Prime. It removes chlorine and amine from the water, and adds things beneficial to your fish.

DO NOT USE BOTTLED WATER. My aquarist told me that bottled water is 'dead' water.

Answer 8

I do not think bottled water would hurt. Some of it is ls soft too. maybe a spring bottled water.

Answer 9

Might not be a good idea - do not know if bottled water has oxygen in it or not.

Answer 10

no chlorine in bottles..good thing. Get the 5 gallon ones !