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My tank has been running for 19 days can I change the water with bottled water2007-11-24 23:39:31

I feel as if my tap water is danger to my fish, it is VERY soft.

Answers:

Based on your last question you have guppy, and pleco in the tank. A both are very tolerant to water conditions found in normal tap water. The number you gave in a prior message make no sense.

ph is 8.4- This is tap water in the US. Water is basic likely isn't legal, and what sort of test kit are you using. Most fish test kits don't go this high. Basically baking soda, and seawater have such a pH.

my alkakinity is over 300- I'm assuming that's ppm not kH. In kH thats only 16 kH which is mildly hard. It's near ideal for guppy.

my hardness is 0- In ppm, or gH this seems doubtful given your alkalinity. You could add some limestone to increase it. Honestly this is only a major concern for growing fish.

Personally I'd get rid of the pleco as it's going to get far to big. Add about 1 teaspoon of salt per day for 5 days. Be sure to dissolve it in tank water 1st. (Note while guppies can live in salt water if the change is slow. A pleco can only take about 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons.) You can use table salt/kosher/rock salt despite various people wild claims. In this case if the gH is really that low aquarium salt will add needed minerals.

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yes, we use bottle spring water..it has some minerals and ph is bout 7.4..so take a sample of your tank water and your tap water to the fish store for testing..i help a fish store take care of their fish.. in this area sometimes the tap water is so bad , we add bottle spring water.our tap water has chloramine in it . that 's ammonia and chlorine..we tested 8 ppm of both..no declor could take them out, so we use the spring water.

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Purified water doesn't work well with fish because there's no bacteria or minerals in the water. Try Mineral Water or I've been told and have done is to fill the tank with regular tap water and set it up the way you want it but run it without any fish in it for 3 or 4 days. then place the fish while still in they're bag in the tank to float for 12 hours before releasing them into the water.

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Tap water is dangerous for your fish, but there are treatments you can buy to neutralize the water. I buy "Bowl Buddies." They are water conditioning tablets.