Tapwater directly to tank bad? - Aquarium Advice

pitt420dude · 03-24-2005, 10:01 AM

In a freshwater tank, Can I put city water right into the tank? IS it bad for the fish? The water is that fromthe city water system of pittsburgh. I have an assortment of Gouramis, Tetras, Angels, red tail shark, zuchini pleco.
- pizza

cJw · 03-24-2005, 10:18 AM

It depends on your tap water, but odds are, yes.

Most 'city tap water' contains chlorine, which will kill your fish. You must first use some type of water treatment to DEchlorinate the water.

Your [acronym:1b06952562="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:1b06952562] should be able to help you out on that.

Bearfan · 03-24-2005, 10:22 AM

Python hoses do just that, then people add dechlor.

**Fishyfanatic** · 03-24-2005, 10:30 AM

If you aren't adding dechlorinator to the water after adding it to the tank, then yes, tapwater ONLY is bad.

malkore · 03-24-2005, 11:00 AM

You can add tap water to the tank ,but you have to add enough dechlorinator to treat the entire tank. If you used buckets, you'd only have to use enough dechlor for the new tap water, wait 5 mins, then dump it in the tank.

chlorine/chloramine does not instantly kill fish or plants...but it will over time.

cJw · 03-24-2005, 11:17 AM

Quote:

chlorine/chloramine does not instantly kill fish or plants...but it will over time.

Thanks for the clarification, Malkore.

skydvr · 03-24-2005, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malkore

You can add tap water to the tank ,but you have to add enough dechlorinator to treat the entire tank. If you used buckets, you'd only have to use enough dechlor for the new tap water, wait 5 mins, then dump it in the tank.

I've heard this before - I don't get it. When adding directly from the tap, why do you have to add enough for the whole tank when "most" of the tank is treated? Is it due to not giving the chemical any time to react with just the "new" water?

Thanks...

Menagerie · 03-24-2005, 02:39 PM

I only add enough for the water I replaced. Never had any problems (expect when I forgot the dechlor once

).

Biznatch · 03-24-2005, 02:58 PM

I wouldn't be so sure about the water no instantly killing the fish. Before I knew I had to treat the water, I filled my gf's tank back up with like 6 gallons of untreated water. Within a minute or 2 all but 2 fish were floating upside down and died.

03-24-2005, 04:25 PM

The bottom line is this: it depends on the size of the tank and how much you are adding. Putting two gallons of tap water into a 75 gallon tank, for example, will not harm anything as it becomes very dilute. My recommendation is if you are replacing more than 10% of your tank's capacity more than once every 48 hours, you should condition the water.

Using a smidge of tap water is not always a bad thing. The chlorinated properties does wonders for treating bacterial gill disease, for example.

03-24-2005, 10:01 AM	#1
pitt420dude Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pittsburgh! Home of the 5 Time Superbowl Champs! Posts: 949 Images: 11	Tapwater directly to tank bad? In a freshwater tank, Can I put city water right into the tank? IS it bad for the fish? The water is that fromthe city water system of pittsburgh. I have an assortment of Gouramis, Tetras, Angels, red tail shark, zuchini pleco. - pizza __________________ Thank you so much for all your help. I'm now going green. LOOK! A NEW LEAF!!!!!

03-24-2005, 10:18 AM	#2
cJw Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 884 Images: 11	It depends on your tap water, but odds are, yes. Most 'city tap water' contains chlorine, which will kill your fish. You must first use some type of water treatment to DEchlorinate the water. Your [acronym:1b06952562="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:1b06952562] should be able to help you out on that. __________________ 30g long planted fw 1 blue gourami 6 rummy nose tetras 6 gold barbs 3 peppered cory cats 1 'maldito' cory cats= 1 yoyo loach 1 clown pleco 6 ghost shrimp † There are no coincidences. †

03-24-2005, 10:22 AM	#3
Bearfan Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marquette, MI Posts: 3,554 Images: 45	Python hoses do just that, then people add dechlor. __________________ 75 gal w/ 75 gal sump, 25 gal fuge with Chaeto and 25 gal frag - 4x65 PC w/ Moonlite on the main tank, 2x20W PC on the fuge, 4x20W PC on the frag 72 Gal Bowfront Planted w/ 2x65 PC and 40W T8

03-24-2005, 10:30 AM	#4
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	If you aren't adding dechlorinator to the water after adding it to the tank, then yes, tapwater ONLY is bad. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

03-24-2005, 11:00 AM	#5
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	You can add tap water to the tank ,but you have to add enough dechlorinator to treat the entire tank. If you used buckets, you'd only have to use enough dechlor for the new tap water, wait 5 mins, then dump it in the tank. chlorine/chloramine does not instantly kill fish or plants...but it will over time. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

03-24-2005, 02:39 PM	#8
Menagerie Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 11,266 Images: 77	I only add enough for the water I replaced. Never had any problems (expect when I forgot the dechlor once ). __________________

03-24-2005, 02:58 PM	#9
Biznatch Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 11	I wouldn't be so sure about the water no instantly killing the fish. Before I knew I had to treat the water, I filled my gf's tank back up with like 6 gallons of untreated water. Within a minute or 2 all but 2 fish were floating upside down and died.

03-24-2005, 04:25 PM	#10
Guest Posts: n/a	The bottom line is this: it depends on the size of the tank and how much you are adding. Putting two gallons of tap water into a 75 gallon tank, for example, will not harm anything as it becomes very dilute. My recommendation is if you are replacing more than 10% of your tank's capacity more than once every 48 hours, you should condition the water. Using a smidge of tap water is not always a bad thing. The chlorinated properties does wonders for treating bacterial gill disease, for example.

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