How to prepare water for an aquarium

No matter what decorations you decorate the aquarium with and no matter what equipment you use, water always remains its main component. Water is a habitat not only for fish, but also for beneficial bacteria. 

What water to use for an aquarium

Do not use bottled liquid to fill the aquarium. Its characteristics: mineral composition and pH level, may not be suitable for fish. The best solution is plain cold tap water. But you can not immediately pour it from the tap.

Water from a centralized water supply is considered safe by default, but the chlorine compounds in it are toxic to fish. In addition, it may contain other harmful impurities. Before. how to fill an aquarium with it – it does not matter if you fill it for the first time or make a partial replacement – it must be allowed to settle. 1-2 days is enough for the volatile compounds to evaporate.  

If the fish are placed in rainwater or tap water immediately, they may die.

How to properly defend water

To achieve the result, it is important to defend the water correctly. I do not recommend using plastic containers that are not intended for drinking. It is better if the container is made of glass, you can use ordinary jars. The main thing is not to close the container with a lid: this will disrupt the air circulation and there will be no benefit from such “infusion”. To protect against dust and dirt, you can cover the container with gauze.

The settled water is safe for fish. You can safely add it to the aquarium when you make a partial replacement. However, if you are setting up an aquarium from scratch and filling it for the first time, you cannot immediately launch the fish even into the settled liquid. From the moment the aquarium is filled with settled water until the fish are released, 6-7 days must pass in order for a living environment to develop in the aquarium.   

How to prepare water without settling

Settling the liquid before filling the aquarium is a must. But if you want to fill the aquarium quickly, there are special water preparation products – TetraAqua AquaSafe type conditioners. With it, you can quickly prepare water for partial replacement. And with TetraAqua AquaSafe and TetraAqua SafeStart, you can create a healthy environment for fish when starting an aquarium from scratch. It will not be necessary to harvest water for two days!

How water conditioners work

AquaSafe allows you to bind heavy metals and neutralize chlorine – the water becomes safe for fish and can be added to an already established environment. But water treated with AquaSafe cannot be used to fill an aquarium from scratch, as it does not yet contain bacteria and does not provide a living habitat for fish. Therefore, when setting up a new aquarium, a second product is used along with this preparation – TetraAqua SafeStart. This tool creates conditions for the development of bacteria and reduces the level of toxic ammonia and nitrite. 

Once your water has been treated with AquaSafe and TetraAqua SafeStart, you can put your fish in right away. Water does not have to be defended for two days.

In addition to the main purpose, such tools may have additional functions. TetraAqua AquaSafe prevents the occurrence of stress in the inhabitants due to magnesium and vitamin B1 in the composition and protects the mucous membranes from the penetration of infections, thanks to colloids.

When filling the aquarium from scratch and partial water changes, do not forget about the temperature. If you pour too cold or hot water into the aquarium, the fish will die. There are two types of fish – cold water and tropical. Find out what type your pets are and what temperature they need. Make sure that the water is at the right temperature.

Whatever method of water preparation you choose, the main thing is not to rush and do everything right. The quality of life of the inhabitants of the aquarium depends on your actions. When in doubt, it is better to consult an aquarist than to experiment and risk the lives of the inhabitants of the aquarium.