Water quality is so important to the health of your fish, it is important to understand what is coming out of your tap. If the fish you are looking to keep require parameters that are far outside what is available, you will have to look at serious alterations to the water which can prove to be a difficult and time-consuming process.
Examining Water Quality
The table on the right shows the average values of Edmonton water in the key areas that affect fish-keeping. Based on this information, I decided on the type of fish I could keep. I’ve detailed what I do below.
One thing to keep in mind, if you are sourcing your aquarium with what is available at your Local Fish Store (LFS), you can be assured that the water parameters at the store closely match what is coming out of the tap. Very few fish stores will invest in expensive water filters or use advanced chemicals to drastically alter the water parameters. Make sure you do your research, but this is generally something you can rely on.
Data from EPCOR in
Edmonton, AB, Canada
| Parameter | Avg | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.9 | 7.6 | 8.2 |
| Chlorine* | 2.1 | 1.87 | 2.34 |
| Water Hardness (mg/L) | 182 | 145 | 218 |
| Water Hardness (dkH) | 10.2 | 8.1 | 12.2 |
A NOTE REGARDING CHLORAMINE (NH2Cl)
Chloramine has become a better alternative to chlorine as its effects last longer in preventing contaminants. It is prepared by the reaction of ammonia with sodium hypochlorite, which will produce a positive result on an ammonia water test. The best way to clear the chloramine is to let your water stand for at least 24 hours to allow it to dissipate, however only Seachem Prime boasts the removal of chloramine as part of its treatment. Edmonton water has increasing amounts of chloramine, meaning I use Seachem Prime at double the dose to make the tap-water safe immediately.
Conclusions
- I don’t alter the chemistry for any of my fish tanks, other than adding water conditioner to deal with the chlorine content. I do double the amount of conditioner, which seems to work better at removing ALL of the chlorine and chloramine.
- The pH is slightly higher than I’d like for most fish species, but find as long as the value stays consistent, the fish don’t seem to struggle in slightly more alkaline water than their ideal.
- It has been my experience that water conditioners are not all made equal. There is nothing better than Seachem Prime.