Aquarium Water Types: What Is the Best Water for Fish Tanks?

Your aquarium should be a sanctuary for your fish that enables them to live healthy lives. That’s why creating the right environment for them should be a top priority, starting with the water you fill the tank with. If you’re wondering aquarium water types and what the best water for fish tanks is, read below to find out.

Tap Water

The simplest method of obtaining water is to use the taps in your home. If you live in a city, your water comes from a municipal treatment facility that removes bacteria and other undesirable impurities from the water. However, these treatments merely make water safe for human consumption; depending on where you live, the water may still include other contaminants such as heavy minerals or even trace levels of harmful chemicals.

As a result, if you use tap water for your fish tank, you’ll need to make further adjustments to the water to make it safe and habitable for your fish. For instance, you’ll need to use a conditioner to remove chlorine from your tank. Chlorine is a decontaminant frequently present in municipal water, but it kills beneficial bacteria that help fish. You can condition your tank water by testing it, identifying what the water contains, and then adding or removing chemicals until it meets the appropriate criteria.

Well Water

You may also obtain your water from a well, which won’t include chlorine but may contain a variety of other harmful chemicals unless you purify it. Runoff from surrounding farms and industrial sites, for example, can contribute to nitrates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), coliform bacteria, and other hazardous contaminants that you’ll need to filter out. Well water has a wide range of pH and hardness, and it frequently lacks oxygen, so you’ll need to aerate the water to allow your fish to safely live in it .

Distilled Water

You can find distilled water in any grocery store. The distillation process removes virtually any potential contaminants. However, it also removes 99.9 percent of water’s essential minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and salts. Therefore, if you choose to use distilled water, you must add those minerals before introducing fish to the tank. To restore minerals, you can add a small portion of tap water or purchase a re-mineralizing agent from a shop and add a small amount to the aquarium.

You can also use rainwater, filtered water, or bottled water for your aquarium, but no matter what you use, you’ll need to treat it properly to make it suitable for your fish. Otherwise, they may become ill, and the tank’s overall quality will deteriorate. Ultimately, the best water type is whichever is most accessible to you while allowing you to make it habitable for your fish.

We hope you enjoyed learning about the aquarium water types and which is the best for fish tanks. At Fish Tanks Direct, you can get an incredibly stylish curved aquarium to fill with your water of choice, along with many other fantastic tank options. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.