Well Water

[sharkweek178]

I might have access to some well water. Which I'm told is harder than the tap water around here.

What do I need to know about using it in an aquarium? Is there some way to test it besides this API test kit I have?

 

[Uberhoust]

Yes you can get the GH and KH api test kits as well. Well water does vary a bit though in my experience it is typically harder. The biggest issue with hard vs. soft water is that fish tend to prefer or do better in one than the other. If you are concerned about the maintenance of the aquarium choosing fish that match your water hardness makes the water changes much easier and prevents issues in the future. You should likely measure the water for GH and KH, and the other parameters as well after it has sat for about 24 hrs. Usually softwater will be more acidic and hardwater more alkaline. Harder water is more resistant to pH changes than softwater but I haven't found that to be an issue, I have very softwater, and the KH doesn't register, yet my pH remains pretty stable.

Why do you want to use the well water rather than the tap? You might not achieve any benefit going to well water, short of the treatment for chlorine.

If possible do not consider adjust the water pH unless you have a lot of experience with it. Also be cautious of what the stores tell you, they would love to have you buy materials to adjust your water with each water change.

 

[sharkweek178]

Yes you can get the GH and KH api test kits as well. Well water does vary a bit though in my experience it is typically harder. The biggest issue with hard vs. soft water is that fish tend to prefer or do better in one than the other. If you are concerned about the maintenance of the aquarium choosing fish that match your water hardness makes the water changes much easier and prevents issues in the future. You should likely measure the water for GH and KH, and the other parameters as well after it has sat for about 24 hrs. Usually softwater will be more acidic and hardwater more alkaline. Harder water is more resistant to pH changes than softwater but I haven't found that to be an issue, I have very softwater, and the KH doesn't register, yet my pH remains pretty stable.

Why do you want to use the well water rather than the tap? You might not achieve any benefit going to well water, short of the treatment for chlorine.

If possible do not consider adjust the water pH unless you have a lot of experience with it. Also be cautious of what the stores tell you, they would love to have you buy materials to adjust your water with each water change.

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Reason why is because if it is harder than my tap water, then that gives me more options in what kind of fish I can keep.
I'm also concerned about any possible toxins or biological agents. Probably too concerned. Just wondering if there's a way to test for that besides just putting the fish in and seeing what happens.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

FYI- I am in New York about 25 miles NNE of NYC. I have well water--> pH 7.0, TDS 83 ppm, GH 4-5, KH 3-4. When things are very dry for extended periods the TDS go up to about 95 ppm but when we get a number of big rains and then some lesser ones, I have seen the TDS drop to 53 ppm.

I do great with soft water fish and I think my well water contains an natural fish aphrodisiac based on how many of them have spawned over the years.

 

[Uberhoust]

I think which fish you have hard or soft water really depends on what you are used to. I used to have fish like mollys and africain cichlids when I had a home in a hard water area but now I live with softwater and have the a number of south american cichlids and tetras to choose from, the softwater has allowed me to keep angels which I aways wanted but could not because of hard water. Both sides of the hardness fence have lot of fish available.

With the well water you could have two types of tanks. The best of both worlds.

 

[Byron]

Reason why is because if it is harder than my tap water, then that gives me more options in what kind of fish I can keep.

I don't really understand this...if you mean fish in general, this is certainly not accurate as there are far more soft water species, not even considering the moderate hard water species, than there are hard water species. Of course it all depends upon the numbers, which you have not given us (tap water GH and pH, then there will be the well water GH and pH for comparison). And as already well mentioned, well water may not be consistent throughout the year, and that means more trouble. The fluctuation in the water of most tropical habitats are not much at all, and the fish have evolved accordingly. This alone could mean a lot of work, or not being able to use the well water for periods. On the other hand, if you mean that your personal options for fish are excluded by your present water, that is a different thing. But again the issue of consistency in the water parameters is absolute.

I'm also concerned about any possible toxins or biological agents. Probably too concerned. Just wondering if there's a way to test for that besides just putting the fish in and seeing what happens.

This is certainly a very valid concern. Before using the water at all you need a very comprehensive set of tests to determine what exactly is in it. I hope you are not sincerely suggesting you set up the tank with the water, add these fish you want in hard water, then watch to see whether or not they struggle and die from lead, or copper, or arsenic, or nitrates, or... who knows what. A professional water test is necessary, unless you buy all these and more tests, and one test woould certainly be much less cost than acquiring all the necessary regents.

 

[sharkweek178]

I don't really understand this...if you mean fish in general, this is certainly not accurate as there are far more soft water species, not even considering the moderate hard water species, than there are hard water species. Of course it all depends upon the numbers, which you have not given us (tap water GH and pH, then there will be the well water GH and pH for comparison). And as already well mentioned, well water may not be consistent throughout the year, and that means more trouble. The fluctuation in the water of most tropical habitats are not much at all, and the fish have evolved accordingly. This alone could mean a lot of work, or not being able to use the well water for periods. On the other hand, if you mean that your personal options for fish are excluded by your present water, that is a different thing. But again the issue of consistency in the water parameters is absolute.

My tap water hardness is 136 PPM (mg/L) or 8 g pg. I don't know what the well water is. I was told it was hard but I wouldn't act on anything until I tested it myself.

Now, the tap water I have gives me plenty of options. But what I was thinking was that if I had access to another water source that was harder, then I could have another tank with something that's better suited for hard water.

The thing that's given me the most pause here is the possible fluctuations. That wasn't something I considered. That's why I like to put these things on the forum. There's always some angle that I didn't think of.

This is certainly a very valid concern. Before using the water at all you need a very comprehensive set of tests to determine what exactly is in it. I hope you are not sincerely suggesting you set up the tank with the water, add these fish you want in hard water, then watch to see whether or not they struggle and die from lead, or copper, or arsenic, or nitrates, or... who knows what. A professional water test is necessary, unless you buy all these and more tests, and one test woould certainly be much less cost than acquiring all the necessary regents.

I wouldn't actually do that to a fish. I was just using sarcasm to make a point about my lack of testing options. I was wondering what options there are for testing well water to find out if it's aquarium quality.
I don't think I'll actually go through with this idea. The fluctuations is one reason. Another is access. The property that has the well is owned by relatives. I'll always have permission. But if I were to move further away, then I'd have to transport the water and that seems like it works be a giant pain.
And the lack of certainty in knowing that it would be absolutely safe.

 

[Byron]

The tap water is 136ppm or 7.5 dH. That is not bad. Subjective terms are not based on fact so meanings vary, but in the hobby in general terms water in this range of hardness is considered moderately soft/moderately hard. It is too soft for most true hard water fish, such as rift lake cichlids and livebearers.

If you wanta tank of such fish, th easy solution ids to use the tap water but put a calcareous substrate in the tank (they manufacture these for rift lake cichlids and livebearers). And depending upon the numbers once such a tank is biologically stable, water changes mighty require preparation of the water outside the aquarium using one of the remineralization salts available. All fish in this tank would have to require identical water. I did this back in the 1980's for a tank of mollies, and even rift lake cichlids, as my tap water was (and still is obviously) extremely soft. It is extra work, but worth it if you want those particular fish.