Do I need conditioned water for planted tank?

[Sunnyspots]

It is only planted, no fish or invertebrates. Can I use straight tap water?

 

[itiwhetu]

Yep sure can. The plants will deal with any contaminates.

 

[Sunnyspots]

That makes sense to me! Thank you

 

[PheonixKingZ]

No, you can’t. The chlorine and contaminants in the tap water will slowly destroy the plants.

 

[Sunnyspots]

No, you can’t. The chlorine and contaminants in the tap water will slowly destroy the plants.

Drat. Guess what I've done....

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Drat. Guess what I've done....

I would add some dechlorinator ASAP.

The plants MIGHT be able to survive, but they definitely won’t thrive. I don’t see any reason in subjecting them to chlorine…

 

[Sunnyspots]

I would add some dechlorinator ASAP.

The plants MIGHT be able to survive, but they definitely won’t thrive. I don’t see any reason in subjecting them to chlorine…

I thought itvwould be OK as the chlorine would evaporate soon enough anyway . Never mind. I shall hope to save them.

 

[Slaphppy7]

I thought itvwould be OK as the chlorine would evaporate soon enough anyway . Never mind. I shall hope to save them.

Is your tap water treated with chlorine, or chloramine?
Chlorine will gas off, chloramine will not.

 

[Sunnyspots]

Is your tap water treated with chlorine, or chloramine?
Chlorine will gas off, chloramine will not.

No idea I'm afraid. It smells of chlorine if that clarifies things. And I know phosphorus is added to it.

 

[Sunnyspots]

For the safety of my (expensive) plants I shall condition the water and play it safe.

 

[Slaphppy7]

For the safety of my (expensive) plants I shall condition the water and play it safe.

No reason not to....can't hurt, and conditioner isn't pricey.

As an aside, we water our house plants with chlorinated tap water all of the time, with no ill effects...

 

[Sunnyspots]

No reason not to....can't hurt, and conditioner isn't pricey.

As an aside, we water our house plants with chlorinated tap water all of the time, with no ill effects...

Ooh. Good point. But I guess it might be different being soaked in it onnthe outside, not having it filtered through soil and up on the inside.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Ooh. Good point. But I guess it might be different being soaked in it onnthe outside, not having it filtered through soil and up on the inside.

It may...but it's really a moot point, if you just condition the water

 

[Sunnyspots]

It may...but it's really a moot point, if you just condition the water

Do you condition your houseplant water? If so, does it seem to help them grow better?

 

[Byron]

There is no harm to aquarium plants from chlorinated water. Chlorine is actually a plant nutrient, though in a very small amount as it is a micro-nutrient. But if fish are not present, I never dechlorinate water for the aquarium. My "QT" for new fish acquisitions runs without fish for several months (depending when I acquire fish) and I do regular water changes with tap water without conditioner. The plants remain alive and healthy, although the lack of ammonia/ammonium due to there being no fish creating organics and ammonia is noticeable, until new fish are added.