Can I use distilled water in my aquarium for Zebra Danios?

Answer 1

No, distilled water is too pure for aquarium use. As the first poster pointed out, it has no minerals in it which the fish need. The only time distilled water would be advisable is to "top off" a tank, or replace evaporation between water changes.

ap water would be the best choice unless yours has serious issues that can't be corrected easily. Barring that use bottled drinking water, but of course with nothing added.

MM

Answer 2

Probably not the best idea. Distilled water has no chemicals in it al all. The problem is, though, that any water left standing will absorb Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from the air. When CO2 dissolves in the water, it forms Carbonic acid.

The chemical formula goes something like this:

H2O + CO2 ---------> H2CO3 --------->H + HCO3 ------> 2H + CO3

This reaction lives in an equilibrium (meaning the reaction goes both ways so that the ratios of the various chemicals in the reaction stay the same)

Anyway, that acid formation will drop the pH of the water to somewhere below 6.0. There aren't a lot of fish that like a pH that low.

By the way, that dissolved CO2 serves as a buffer for acids. When one adds an acid (that is to say hydrogen ions) to the system, it forces the reaction back towards CO2 gas to minimize the effect of adding the acid. But there is a limit to how much acid can be so "neutralized". The more CO3 and HCO3 in the system, the more hydrogen ions that can be absorbed. This is referred to as the "carbonate hardness" of the water. In distilled water, the only source of CO3 is the dissolved CO2. That will not be a lot of buffer capacity. As the fish produce acids (which all creatures do as part of metabolism) the available buffering capacity will be used up and the pH will drop further killing all of the fish.

Tap water usually has other chemicals in it that will add to the buffering capacity of the tank and stabilize the pH at a higher level. Thus, it will be better able to absorb the acids given off by the fish.

If you are going to use distilled water (or RO water or DI water) add a commercial "fish tank formula" buffer to the tank. These are designed to set the pH at a certain level and to buffer it there effectively. That is the best way to maintain an ideal tank environment for the fish species you choose to raise for most aquarists. Those of us who are obsessed may create ourt own buffers. But that is for the really advanced.

Answer 3

Zebra Danios are hardy fish they are the first fish I place in a new tank to test the water, no cruelty here, I have 50 danios and 10 tanks. Distilled isn't that just tap water left standing and settled to remove chemicals? Don't know, use tap with dechlor. added. Good Luck..><>:)

Answer 4

They need minerals in the water. If your tap water has problems, use spring water.