Distilled water... is it safe?

[jackie11]

I was told by a friend that you can you 100% distilled water in a new fish aquarium and it is just fine for the fish... is this possible? also, would you need to treat it using any chemicals? What if i am using regular tap water... then what chemicals do i need to treat it with? I have a friend who has an angel fish living perfectly fine in a tank with a proper filter and 100% distilled water...

[hungryhound]

I was told by a friend that you can you 100% distilled water in a new fish aquarium and it is just fine for the fish... is this possible?
Yes but expensive

also, would you need to treat it using any chemicals?
no. the main thing you need to look out for is chlorine in the water.


What if i am using regular tap water... then what chemicals do i need to treat it with?

Tap water is fine. All you need to treat it with is a dechlorinator.

[Rue]

*ACK* Big no-no to use 100% distilled water in a freshwater tank. Tapwater is better since it has 'stuff' in it that the fish need, like minerals.

Once a tank is established, distilled or R/O water can be used for WCs...but never to start a tank.

When starting a SW tank...you do use R/O water since you want it completely pure, because you immediately add your own salt mix. Tap water is too high in phosphates to start a SW tank.

Use tap water. Test first to see what the normal pH is and if you have any ammonia present in it. And always treat with a water conditioner first to remove toxic chlorine or chloramines and any heavy metals.

[Sasquatch]

100% pure distilled water is a bad thing for fish. The gills will try to equilibrate salt concentrations with the water, take up water to dilute their salts and the cells will burst. Definatly not a good thing for the fish!

If you use distilled water, buy the salt mixtures to "re-constitute" reverse osmosis water. With the right mix you should be fine.

But unless your tapwater has something really nasty in it, it should be fine. Just buy a de-chlorinator with something to bind up the metals in it.