Who use spring-mineral water

[Avel1896]

Hello,
Is it common to use spring-mineral water to fill (less than 60 litres) aquariums ?
It is in France. Some are very suitable to tropical fishes among which Volvic, Mont-Roucous.
Is has three valuable advantages : they are healthy, their composition is consistent, no need to remineralize them.
Your opinion ?

 

[Colin_T]

It depends on what the tap water is like and what fish you keep.
Any idea what the pH, GH & KH of the water is?
Does it contain sodium or sodium chloride?

 

[Avel1896]

My tap water is very hard : pH8 GH21 KH17 ?
No sodium or sodium chloride.
My fav are acidic water fishes pH6-7 GH KH <8 except for Poecilia endler.

 

[Colin_T]

If the spring water has a suitable pH, GH & KH for your fish, and contains no sodium, then it's fine to use. However, it might be expensive.

If you use bottled water, pour it into a bucket and aerate it for 30 minutes or more before you use it in the tank. The dissolved gasses in bottled water can be unstable and aerating the water for 30 minutes or more can get the gasses back to the normal level so it's safer for the fish.

 

[Avel1896]

I agree. The biggest inconvenience - even if everything is relative - is the price.

 

[Colin_T]

The volvis is better for livebearers. This water has a bit of salt (sodium chloride) in and has some nitrates, which is a concern.

The Mont Roucous is better for soft water fishes like tetras and barbs. It has less sodium and lower nitrates.

 

[Avel1896]

Volvic NO3 level is 6.3 which isn't a concern to me as it feeds plants.
Don't you think GH5 KH4 is low for livebearers ?
I kept my Betta CT 7 years (I swear) in Volvic !

 

[Colin_T]

Don't you think GH5 KH4 is low for livebearers ?

Yes it is too low for livebearers but I was looking at the sodium content, which livebearers can live with but tetras can't.

 

[Avel1896]

Wattwiller would be nice for livebearers I think.