water quality

[fishychick]

Hi all,
I was just wondering, if all your parameters are good, can you still have poor water quality? For instance, if you had a cycled tank and your readings were ammonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates 10-20, could you still have a problem with your water, that you didn't know about, that could potentially be harming your fish? Like, a dirty log or filter media that is way overdue to be changed? Would that show up on a test? Or could they go sort of undetected?
Or, is it true that as long as your water parameters are good, your water is good, which means the general health of the tank is good?
It just seems like many posters (myself included) have sick fish, but water parameters that are where they should be. It just makes me think there is more to water quality than the basic readings. Does this post even make sense? Lol.
W

 

[Mebbid]

Neither a dirty log or filter cartridge going a long time before changing will hurt a tank's water. The cartridges shouldn't get changed out anyways

In short, the only thing that we can easily test for is ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. The other things that can pollute the water like heavy metals can't really be tested for. If your tap water is safe for drinking, then it should be safe for fish.

 

[fishychick]

Neither a dirty log or filter cartridge going a long time before changing will hurt a tank's water. The cartridges shouldn't get changed out anyways

In short, the only thing that we can easily test for is ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. The other things that can pollute the water like heavy metals can't really be tested for. If your tap water is safe for drinking, then it should be safe for fish.

So basically, if your water parameters are within a good range, you have good water quality?

 

[Mebbid]

So basically, if your water parameters are within a good range, you have good water quality?

Without any other way to tell us otherwise, then there's nothing to say that it's not good.

Regular water changes keep these contaminants from building up. When your tank water evaporates it leaves behind all the contents behind which can be very numerous. These contaminants build up until the water change removes them.

 

[NigelK8485]

You have good water quality if your parameters are in line and you're able to consume the water from the source. However, good water quality doesn't prevent bacteria or parasites from being introduced to the tank. Good water quality will help the fish fight off the diseases, but if a fish has to fight off a parasite long enough it'll stress them out and weaken their immune system. If they're being bothered by another fish...it can weaken their immune system. If there are any sudden changes in temperature, pH, etc. it can weaken their immune system.

Having good water aids the fish in fighting off illness, but there are many things that can allow the fish to become more susceptible to disease rather than poor water quality.


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[fishychick]

However, good water quality doesn't prevent bacteria or parasites from being introduced to the tank.

So what would you say are the ways those types of things most commonly are introduced into the tank? New plants or new fish?

 

[FreshSaltGirl]

New plants, new fish, anything second hand like sand, gravel, filters or heaters. Bacteria can literally come from the places you'd least expect, too.

I didn't hear anyone mention TDS (total dissolved solids) that are found in water. Normally it's not an issue if you're using RODI water, because TDS is about 0.4 or lower. If you're using water from a store, it'll be around 50-74. Whereas dechlorinated tap water would have the highest TDS reading depending on the source. How is anyone to know what chemicals are present in the water from the above sources (excluding RO?) we don't measure them...it's possible after years of using the water, some unknown compounds could build up trigger outbursts of sickness. As previously mentioned though, if fish are healthy to begin with, their ability to fight off disease will most certainly account for anything lurking in the water...

 

[NigelK8485]

New fish that aren't quarantined, some frozen foods, plants can carry some, cross contamination of equipment between tanks, etc. Some are present and remain dormant until there is a fish weak enough to feed off of/infect.


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[Mebbid]

So what would you say are the ways those types of things most commonly are introduced into the tank? New plants or new fish?

Many horrifying bacteria live hand in hand with fish. It's an unavoidable fact of keeping fish. These types of bacteria live in the water being kept at bay by the fish's immune system.

New plants, new fish, anything second hand like sand, gravel, filters or heaters. Bacteria can literally come from the places you'd least expect, too.

I didn't hear anyone mention TDS (total dissolved solids) that are found in water. Normally it's not an issue if you're using RODI water, because TDS is about 0.4 or lower. If you're using water from a store, it'll be around 50-74. Whereas dechlorinated tap water would have the highest TDS reading depending on the source. How is anyone to know what chemicals are present in the water from the above sources (excluding RO?) we don't measure them...it's possible after years of using the water, some unknown compounds could build up trigger outbursts of sickness. As previously mentioned though, if fish are healthy to begin with, their ability to fight off disease will most certainly account for anything lurking in the water...

That's why regular water changes keep those levels in check. Yes those chemicals in the water are present, but as long as you're changing the water and not just topping it off then the TDS will remain fairly constant.

 

[Brookster123]

Mebbid speaks the truth.. much to be gained here..

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[fishychick]

RODI water?

 

[Mebbid]

RODI water?

RODI has had everything stripped from it. It's essentially pure H2O... It's also incredibly unhealthy for fish to use as a sole source of water.

 

[FreshSaltGirl]

RO or Reverse Osmosis water is the product of forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane which ONLY water can flow through and expeling the water that cannot pass through. DI or De-Ionised water has been passed through a bed of special resin which absorbs the Ions that the RO membrane couldnt reject These processes produce water that is more pure than water found anywhere in nature, so pure that it quickly absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and becomes mildly acidic if left exposed to air!

 

[ScaryFatKidGT]

PH, TDS, temp, phosphates, chlorine and chloramines all play a part...

 

[doctordamen]

Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate
Gh/KH/ph
Temperature


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