I am moving into the country and the house has well water. When I first got my 10 gallon tank and the fish, I was told that I had to leave the "city water" out for 24 hours before putting the fish in so that the clorine will get out of the water. Do I have to do this with well-water or can I omit the waiting step?
2007-05-08 16:19:31 · 7 answers · asked by girliegirl3773 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Unless the well water has chlorine added to it (that's rare) you can skip the wait.
MM
2007-05-08 16:25:50 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
We live in the country on a well also. Do test your water for harmful metals and other micro organisms or if you have a filter even better. There is no chlorine in well water unless it is humanly put there. Chlorine is added to city water to kill micro organisms. If your water comes back clean go for it. We do not need to leave our water out because our well water is fine. I would however recommend that you still add stress coat when adding new water as it is benificial to the fish as water changes can be stressful and if the fish freak while you are cleaning they can damage their slime coat.
Best of luck to you.
2007-05-08 22:26:41 · answer #2 · answered by my3mohrkids 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have to agree with MagicMan. We have well water, and in most cases, well water comes from underground aquifers, and so is rarely treated with chlorine. If it did have chlorine, then usually it was because the owner (you) put bleach down the well. I've considered well water a blessing because it means that when I clean my tanks, I can replace it with water straight from the tap through my Python siphon hose and also at the right temp. No treatments required!!!
2007-05-08 17:24:32 · answer #3 · answered by lizzzy9 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No and you really don't have to wait with city water either if you are using a good dechlor.
Well water has no chlorides in it. I would still suggest using a dechlor/waterconditioner only for the fact sulpher can leach into your well water (smells like rotton eggs). This is the major problem with well water in some areas.
But nope no waiting and I would suggest a good conditioner.
2007-05-09 17:04:42 · answer #4 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well - you should probably do dechlorinator regardless and if you have poor water quality in the area wait 48 hours. Waiting never hurts, if you really don't want to wait take your water and have it test for chlorine, nitrates, nitrites and ammonia - if all come up 0 you're fine.
2007-05-08 16:27:17 · answer #5 · answered by Sage M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! We live off a well too and well water contains LOTS of chlorine, as well as harsh, poisonous, disolved metals. Getting water conditioner from a pet store would be your best bet.
Good luck!
2007-05-08 16:30:29 · answer #6 · answered by DiRtAlLtHeWaY 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, you don't have to do that. Your well water shouldn't have chlorine in it.
2007-05-08 18:33:16 · answer #7 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋