If we are planning to keep goldfish at home for the first time, the first thing that comes to our mind is what kind of water we should use for our goldfish.
Although it has also been observed that goldfish become sick or even die within a few days of being purchased and placed in a home aquarium. What is the main reason for this?
It is very important for us to be aware of goldfish care before keeping our goldfish at home. Before keeping goldfish at home, it is essential for us to properly prepare the aquarium environment. The environment of this aquarium depends entirely on the water available in the goldfish tank. Therefore, we should always use the right quality water for goldfish.
Although tap water is available in most places these days, if the water has the right characteristics, we can use that water for our goldfish tank.
Best Water for Goldfish:
Which water we can use for our goldfish tank depends entirely on the characteristics of the water.
TDS of water used for goldfish:
If the amount of mineral elements in water is very high, we call it hard water, and the amount of TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of hard water is also very high.
Similarly, if the amount of mineral content in water is very low, then we call it soft water and the TDS level in this water is very low.
Extra hard water or extra software is not good for our goldfish. Slightly hard water is usually best for our goldfish. That means the ideal TDS of water for our goldfish is 100 to 250 ppm.
pH of water used for goldfish:
If the pH of our water is very low, then we call that water acidic. Similarly, if the pH level of any water is very high, then that water is called alkaline water.
Although the pH of water ranges from 0 to 14, and 7 is considered neutral. The ideal water pH for our goldfish is 6.5 to 7.5. That is, not too acidic water or not too alkaline water.
Checking the purity of water:
How pure a water is depends on many factors. Sometimes, various substances are found in the water that are harmful to our goldfish, such as ammonia and nitrite.
There are also various types of bacteria and fungi found in the water, which can be harmful to our goldfish.
Therefore, we need to use water for our goldfish that is very unlikely to contain the harmful substances and harmful bacteria mentioned above. If possible, we should use a high-quality filter for our goldfish tank.
Suitable water temperature for goldfish:
Water temperature is very important for our goldfish. If our water temperature is too high, the level of dissolved oxygen in the water decreases. Additionally, excessive temperatures are likely to increase the pH value of our water.
In the same way, very low temperatures are harmful to our goldfish. At very low temperatures, the nitrogen cycle does not occur properly in our goldfish tank. As a result, the amount of ammonia and nitrite in our tank increases, which is very harmful to our goldfish.
So the ideal water temperature for goldfish is 70° to 80° Fahrenheit. If we cannot control the water temperature, then we need a heater to control the water temperature in our goldfish tank.
However, it is very important for the water temperature to be slightly higher during goldfish breeding.
Note: Regardless of the type of water we use for our goldfish tank, changing 15% of the water every week is essential for the environment of our aquarium.
Is tap water okay for Goldfish?
In most places, tap water is safe for human consumption. Therefore, the pH and TDS levels of tap water are controlled.
If the pH level of our tap water is between 6.8 and 7.5, and the TDS level is less than 250 ppm, then we can definitely use that water for our goldfish.
However, before using tap water in our goldfish tank, it is very important to use a water conditioner. However, it is important for us to be aware of how to treat tap water.
How to treat tap water for Goldfish?
It is important to take some precautions before using tap water for our goldfish tank. Chlorine and chloramine are usually found in tap water, which is harmful to our fish. So collect tap water in a large container and leave it for 24 hours.
Not only that, if possible, you should use a conditioner suitable for aquarium water. As a result, the amount of chlorine and chloramine in tap water is drastically reduced.
Additionally, using conditioners in aquarium water greatly reduces the chances of various harmful bacteria and fungi. Using water conditioners is essential for the growth of some good bacteria, which help improve the environment in our aquarium.
Therefore, it is essential to improve the aquarium environment before placing goldfish in our tank. We can release the goldfish two days after using the conditioner in the aquarium water.
We should also keep some aquatic plants in our goldfish tank. These aquatic plants greatly improve the water environment in our goldfish tank. Not only that, if possible, we should keep our goldfish tank in a place where a small amount of sunlight enters during the day.
Can we use RO water for Goldfish?
First of all, we need to know about RO water. RO water or reverse osmosis water usually has much lower pH and TDS levels. In most cases, the pH level of RO water is around 5.6 to 6.7. Also, TDS levels are very low, between 20 and 50 ppm.
So if we can control the pH and TDS levels in RO water, then we can use that water for goldfish tanks. However, from our experience, we can say that OR water should not be used for our goldfish tank.
Can we put rain water in our goldfish tank?
Rainwater is very acidic, so the pH level of rainwater is 5 to 5.5. The TDS level in rainwater is 20 to 25 ppm, meaning the amount of minerals in rainwater is very low. Also, the effects of atmospheric pollution can be present in rainwater.
So it is very difficult for us to make rainwater suitable for our goldfish tank. Although many people use rainwater in their aquariums, there is a major process to follow, such as:
- The pH level of the water needs to be controlled.
- The TDS or total dissolved solid of the water needs to be controlled.
- Water needs to be free of pollution or chemicals.
Although, the likelihood of harmful bacteria or fungi in rainwater is very low. However, good bacteria are needed to improve the aquarium environment. To increase the growth of these good bacteria, we should use water conditioners or prebiotics in the water.
Can we use bottled water for Goldfish?
We usually use bottled water as a drink. The pH and TDS values of bottled water are absolutely accurate. Not only that, bottled water does not contain any harmful bacteria or chemicals.
So we can use bottled water for our goldfish aquarium, but bottled water is much more expensive. And our goldfish require a very large tank, which is very difficult for us to complete with bottled water.
Can we use distilled water for Goldfish?
No, we cannot use distilled water for our goldfish. This is because distilled water has very low levels of TDS or total dissolved solids (.5 to 1 ppm).
Water contains a large amount of minerals that are especially important for our fish. So water without minerals is not good for our fish at all. Also, a lot of filter systems are required to prepare distilled water, so the price of this water is very high. There is no way it is possible to use distilled water for such a large goldfish tank.
Welcome to our website Aquarium Fish Zone. My name is Sagar Ghosh and I live in Kolkata. I am a science graduate.
I have kept fish in aquariums since I was very young. I loved seeing the colorful fish in the aquarium.
I have always tried to maintain and care for the fish properly. So me and my team members have created this website. As a result, we can provide you with accurate information about how aquarium fish are kept.