Well Water Question

[bordercollie05]

We have well water at our house and live in the country. In the past, our water has always killed fish, but we didn't know enough to use dechlorinator back then, so I was wondering if that could be the only problem. Also, we didn't know about cycling....again, that could be the problem. I'm actually in college now and have moved my tanks home for the summer. I brought lots of water home in juice bottles that I saved up, but am needing to do a water change. Before I got my 28 gallon, I just used water that I bought in gallon jugs from the gas station. However, that is seeming a bit impractical to buy 12 or so gallons of water each week. I can do it, but I was wondering if there is any way I could use the well water we have. This is what I know about it:

We don't really drink it, we buy water in 5 gallon jugs (kinda pricey to use as fish water though....)
Our dogs and cats drink it all the time
We do use it for things like laundry, showers, sometimes cooking, etc.
It hasn't been professionally tested since we moved in 12 years ago
We have a water softener for the indoor faucets, but it doesn't run through the outdoor hose spigots

I have the basic test kits (pH,NO2,NO3,NH3) and can test those aspects of the water, but I was wondering if there is anything else I should test for or consider? Thanks for any info.

Laura

 

[Tolak]

Biggest problems with well water are hardness, which isn't really a problem as long as your fish are acclimated to it, and traces of metals & such. A dechlorinator that deals with heavy metals should be used, Prime or Aquasafe are two that work well.

 

[bordercollie05]

Biggest problems with well water are hardness, which isn't really a problem as long as your fish are acclimated to it, and traces of metals & such. A dechlorinator that deals with heavy metals should be used, Prime or Aquasafe are two that work well.

Thanks Tolak, should I just acclimate like I would if it were a new fish (put em in a bucket and drip...) or will changing it slowly through water changes suffice?

Do you think I should try the well water or does it seem risky?

Thanks!

Laura

 

[bloatedguppy]

I use well water and tested it and its much better then city water! I don't even have to mix chemicals while doing water changes.

 

[Tolak]

Acclimate them to the well water the same as new purchases if moving to a new tank, small water changes will accomplish the same thing. I knew a breeder years back who lived in the boonies, with a well water supply. He bred some of the best livebearers around.

 

[bordercollie05]

Thanks so much for you help!

I'm gonna give it a shot today

Laura

 

[bordercollie05]

Just wanted to let you know that my serpae tetras have been in my ten gallon for 24 hrs in the well water and are doing great! I took about an hour to acclimatize them and I'm so excited; it looks like I can stop buying water for water changes

Thanks again,
Laura

 

[Mikaila31]

I use well water on all my tank and haven't had a problem with it. Goes straight form the faucet to the tank no dechlorinator or anything. Mine also goes through a water softener, but its still on the hard side. Fish don't seem to mine though.