Pros and Cons of using well water?

[beerad555]

Just wanting advice on using well water in my 125 gal with 1 Jag.What are the pros and cons and what should i look out for?

[Lab_Rat]

You just want to make sure it doesn't have any heavy metal contamination. Often times well water is very good for water changes. Also, make sure you acclimate the fish to the new pH if there is a difference.

[beerad555]

I have had the well water checked and is high in ph about a 8.4 but after starting up and cycling the tank with two large pieces of driftwood in a 125 gal tank the ph has dropped and i have been told that jaguar cichlids like a higher ph anyways. so 25% water changes is probably ok? And is there anything else I should watch out for pertaining to the well water changes?

[Deleted User]

I think 25% water changes will be fine. If you are worried about heavy metals, you can use a water conditioner. We have well water and use no water conditioner.

[Aeonflame]

Nice guapote you have there. As stated before, its not so much the water as the conditioning of the fish to the water. Once hes properly acclimated you'll be fine as long as you dont make any sudden changes.

[gadget228]

I also have well water, coming out of the tap it is 7.4 in pH, after sitting for 24 hours it goes up to 8.2 Have you checked yours this way ?

[gm72]

No drawbacks. I have a well with a conditioner, no problems.

[jscurrier]

Heavy Metal! Duuuude! :beavisbutthead:

[beerad555]

I have not ran a check after 24 hours of letting it sit, but in the tank it has gone down slightly due to having large pieces of driftwood.At least i have been told the driftwood lower ph.Just wondering about 25% water changes using 8.4 to 8.6 into tank which is about 8.0 and KH 12.

[beerad555]

And with only my 7 inch jag in a 125 gal will 25% water change be good enough every other week or should it be done weekly?

[Lady Hobbs]

Only drawback I have read about is the obvious metals but I've also heard of high nitrates right from the tap. I think I would be concerned if I lived in the country and farmers were dumping fertilizers on their crops and it was going into the ground water. Of course we all know where they dump their manure. Not all wells are very deep.

I think in this case I'd be worried more about me than my fish, tho.

[gadget228]

I have not ran a check after 24 hours of letting it sit, but in the tank it has gone down slightly due to having large pieces of driftwood.At least i have been told the driftwood lower ph.Just wondering about 25% water changes using 8.4 to 8.6 into tank which is about 8.0 and KH 12.

I had the same concern about water changes affecting the pH so instead of one 25% change a week I do two 15% a week, one Monday morning and second one Thursday late evening.

Driftwood does lower pH a little, I added two small pieces to my 30 and it has dropped from 8.2 down to 8.0

[gadget228]

Only drawback I have read about is the obvious metals but I've also heard of high nitrates right from the tap. I think I would be concerned if I lived in the country and farmers were dumping fertilizers on their crops and it was going into the ground water. Of course we all know where they dump their manure. Not all wells are very deep.

I think in this case I'd be worried more about me than my fish, tho.

Agreed, my well is deep and my nitrate from the tap is 20 with a GH of 10 and KH of 12