by Kitt-tastrophy on October 13th, 2007

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When getting an aquarium set up, is it ok to use tap water? What sort of water tests need to be done before introducing fish? I'm planning on a freshwater tank.

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by Old_Fish_Man on October 19th, 2007
Hello;

If you find your tap water good to drink I would not test the water for a freshwater tank. Most tap water is good enough for freshwater fish and even elevated Phosphate and Nitrate will only help you grow plants.

Wardley from Walmart makes a good low cost de-chlorinator that also removes chloramines.

I usually siphon out one of my tanks and use this dirty water and waste for the new tank. I feed this tank just like my others even though it has no fish. I check for Ammonia and Nitrite and when it reaches .25 ppm I consider the tank cycled. A few days at most!

Since this is your only tank. I recommend the preferred fishless cycling.

I would use half a cocktail shrimp cut up into pieces in a new tank and wait a month. This will seed your tank with needed matter that the bacteria will need for the nitrogen cycle. You can get it all decorated like you wish as you wait. Then check the water for Ammonia and Nitrite. If it is .25 ppm or less then add fish.

Enjoy!

OFM
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- Thanks!
  
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  by Kitt-tastrophy on October 19th, 2007
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by ruthie on October 25th, 2009
not a good thing to do. the chlorine in the tap water will kill the fish. however, you can do tap, but need to purchase a product for watercare such as Chlorout. then let tank set for a couple of days before indroing the fish to the tank. Then, get some quick dip test strips. It is very hard getting fish to live when setting tank up for first time. by some cheap fish first. tank will eventually stabalize. sorry!
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- No problem, thank you for the information!
  
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  by Kitt-tastrophy on October 25th, 2009
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by - retroglide - on October 13th, 2007
Yes you can use tap water, but you will either need to aerate the water for 24 hours to dispel the chlorine, or you will need to add a commercial dechlorinator. I would recommend "Start Right". It contains electrolytes that help the fish produce it's own body slime. Dechlorinators that contain aloe tend to coat the fishes gill plates and cause labored breathing.

About the only test you will need to do in the beginning is a pH test. It needs to be around 7.0 to 7.2 pH for a typical freshwater community.

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- If I use the "Start Right" how long do I have to wait to introduce the fish? Oh, and is water temp important? Thanks for the answer!
  
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  by Kitt-tastrophy on October 13th, 2007
- If you use "Start Right" you can introduce the fish immediately. Your tank temperature should be within 72 to 78. =])
  
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  by - retroglide - on October 13th, 2007
- This is going to sound stupid, but what should I use as a water thermometer...can you buy ones esp for tanks?
  
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  by Kitt-tastrophy on October 13th, 2007
- Yes they have floating thermometers which are the most reliable. They also have stick on thermometers. They work much like a mood ring. They are less reliable, but not completely inefficient. See the pictures I've added above.
  
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  by - retroglide - on October 13th, 2007
- Thank you SO much for all your help! I only have one last question. I've heard that when first starting a tank it is better to use "starter fish" (the fish that tend to be heartier), if this is true what fish would I use, and how long should I leave them before getting more fish?
  
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  by Kitt-tastrophy on October 13th, 2007
- Yes that's true. The list of good starter fish is fairly large. Gourami's, catfish, botia's, most tetras and their relatives, etc. Most fish stores will be able to help you with your selection. There's no need to remove your starter fish, you will just add to them. It will typically take your tank 30 days to cycle. You make lost some fish during this period of time. Particularly in the 2nd to 3rd week when ammonia levels rise and fall. Here is a link that explains the nitrogen cycle of the aquarium. http://tinyurl.com/38e5ns
  
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  by - retroglide - on October 13th, 2007
- Also, be sure to add freshwater aquarium salt to your tank. Gouramis and live bearers (guppies, swords, mollies) will thrive with the addition of salt. Add the salt at a ratio of 3 TBSP per 10 gallons. If you don't plan on having live bearers or gourami's and are sticking mainly with tetras then you can reduce the salt to 3 TSP per 10 gallons of water. The higher salt content won't hurt the tetras, it's just not necessary. You can certainly mix tetras and gourami's.
  
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  by - retroglide - on October 13th, 2007
- Thanks again! You've been really helpful!
  
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  by Kitt-tastrophy on October 13th, 2007
- You're welcome~!
  
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  by - retroglide - on October 13th, 2007
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by justme32 loves the weekends on October 13th, 2007
You can use regular tap water. They sell some stuff to put in the water at Wal Mart or any pet store that will make it safe for the fish. GL :) I love aquariums.
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- Me too! My aquariums are like art to me, between the decorating and the fish! I've just never had to actually set one up, someone did them for me, so now I have to learn that aspect of it! Thanks!
  
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  by Kitt-tastrophy on October 13th, 2007
- Its fairly easy. I had an aquarium with wallpaper on the back glass part of it. I had about 4 different kinds of fish in it.
  
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  by justme32 loves the weekends on October 13th, 2007
- Awesome! Thanks!
  
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  by Kitt-tastrophy on October 13th, 2007
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Question

When getting an aquarium set up, is it ok to use tap water? What sort of water tests need to be done before introducing fish? I'm planning on a freshwater tank.

Answers. 4 helpful answers below.

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When getting an aquarium set up, is it ok to use tap water? What sort of water tests need to be done before introducing fish? I'm planning on a freshwater tank.

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