I haven't bought any fish yet, but I have all the equipment. I was gonna wait and make sure I do the water thing correctly. What is the procedure for safe water and which are some easy-to-care-for fish I can buy?
2007-07-19 15:52:56 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Our water system is known for having very good reports every year. It was approved when I had it tested for my baby's drinking water and to mix with her formula so I'm hoping it's ok for fish also. Does the water have to sit for so many days before I can put fish in it?
2007-07-19 15:54:50 · update #1
Your tap water will no doubt be just fine for your fish. It's extremely rare for tap water to be unsafe for fish in the US. Simply use a water conditioner that removes both chlorine and chloramine and the water is safe within seconds.
As long as you practice reasonable tank maintenance, most any of the fish labeled as community fish in stores will be easy to care for in a 30 gallon tank. Always, always research a fish before buying it though. Don't always trust the sales staff at the store to be able to accurately answer your questions about compatability and tank size requirements. The best thing to do is visit the store with a book in hand, or write down the names of the fish you are interested in, look them up online or in a book and return to purchase the fish best suited to your tank the next day.
It sounds like you are new to the hobby, so I would like to say welcome to the hobby and also to recommend a site for you to visit. These few pages will help you a lot in understanding the first few weeks of your tank and also help you with fish selection and care.
Best of luck and if I can help further feel free to email me.
http://www.firsttankguide.net/
ADDITION: Ditto to the others that said not to use distilled water! Distilled is a very bad idea for aquarium keeping!
MM
2007-07-19 16:02:12 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I'd listen to most of these folks. Pay close attention to what is written by folks with more positive ratings on their answers on this page as they know what they are talking about. I agree with the water conditioner, and would like to add that it is a good idea to add the amount specified on the bottle between the step of removing the 10%-20% of tank water and the adding of the water.
About temperature. Try to keep the newly added water the same temp as the water in the tank. This will prevent some stress. Also, aside what some may claim, there is really no good 'rule of thumb' concerning tank water temps. Know the ideal temp range(s) of the fish you are planing to stock and adjust your heater accordingly. Some disease treatment suggests higher water temps to be successful. Heed those suggestions when you can confirm that they are accurate.
As far as easy to care for fish, right now my personal favorite are Dwarf Gouramis and Paradisefish (Close relatives to Gouramis, or Gouramis, I have read both many times.) They seem to be hearty, are beautiful, and live in the upper third to half of the tank (topfeeders). Corydoras are hearty, but are a bit more sensitive to nitrates. They live in the bottom third and are great for keeping the gravel clean. (Bottom feeders)
All things being equal, regular water changes will keep the eventual nitrates from building to a harmful lever for the latter.
2007-07-19 16:35:24 · answer #2 · answered by Jason C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listen to the first poster. Tap water has been proven by long standing fish keepers to work - with the water conditioner added.
Distilled water is essentially boiled, with all of the nutrients, salts, and minerals that make the water stable and healthy for fish left behind, and is a poor recommendation. For salt water it's different because they add what is needed afterwards, but for freshwater it's no good. Just because it's 'pure' doesn't make it ideal.
With tap water you need add nothing else - not salt, nor any other chemical they try to sell you - just conditioner.
Water conditioners work instantly to neutralize chlorine or harmful metals - you can add the water right away without ageing it first.
For a brand new tank you want to let it run for several hours to let it oxygenate, and then you can add fish, but make sure you know all about the aquarium cycle, something you can look up and research easily.
2007-07-19 16:01:02 · answer #3 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
After you fill your tank, be SURE to put a "tap water detoxifier" in it. 10 drops per gallon. The water will be ready to put in the tank almost immediately, or you can wait for a few minutes, but most of these things work quickly. When you go to your "fish place", talk to someone who works there, and they'll help you to buy the right things to use, besides the detoxifier.....stress zyme, salt (yes, you need some aquarium salt even in a fresh water aquarium), etc. They can also tell you about the best fish for your tank. The "rule of thumb" is...1" of fish for each gallon of water. If your tank gets too much algae....after a few weeks, get an algae eater (I have an otocinclus in my 30 gal tank). I also have Platys, Rasboros, a loach, and some catfish. Some other good ones are.....swordtails, mollies, gouramis.....all livebearers. Also, get a "6-test water test kit", and keep your water between 72-80 degrees.....Good luck............
2007-07-19 16:09:27 · answer #4 · answered by brutusmom 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You have to buy some kind of drops like a conditioner for the water. Just ask them at the stores, they will know what you are talking about. You don't have to wait a certain amount of days, but there is a required temperature of the water before you can put fish in it.
2007-07-19 16:02:46 · answer #5 · answered by allicsirp19 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Goldfish are usually pretty good for beginners. They are really hardy and don't usually get sick easily. Danios, rainbowfish, most tetras, corydoras catfish, otocinclus catfish, ghost shrimp, bamboo shrimp, mollies and swordtails are pretty easy to care for and are pretty peaceful. Just be sure to pay attention to how large any fish that you are going to buy will get and don't overstock your tank.
As for the water just be sure to use a water conditioner made for fish and you should be fine. Ironically it's not a difficult procedure, just a tedious one.
2007-07-19 16:06:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
yes you can use your water but before you but the fish in let the water sit in the tank for a couple of days so the water will distill.
2007-07-19 17:19:37 · answer #7 · answered by ash 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
tap water is ok for fish, but u should use a water conditoner like stress coat which de-chorlinates water.
This is a must when using tap water.
Ive been using tap water for 13 years, when it comes to water changes.
2007-07-19 15:57:36 · answer #8 · answered by Coral Reef Forum 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that is fine. Just add dechlorinator and dchloramine eliminator to make sure it's safe. Most of us do that:) Good luck!
2007-07-19 16:45:59 · answer #9 · answered by boncarles 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you want to risk the death of all the fish you will pay a fortune for to die? Use distilled water only-- ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO A SALT WATER TANK--the fish are extremely sensitive to the correct water temperature, ph salt content and aeration................good luck to you........having a baby is easier than keeping a fish tank-- I know, we had 2 kids and 2 salt water fish tanks------kids hands down easier........and they're still alive!!!
2007-07-19 15:58:40 · answer #10 · answered by mac 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋