WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WATER SOURCES FOR AQUARIUMS AND PONDS
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This general topic of what water should be used is fundamental to aquarium and pond keeping, and is the basis for considering filtration, water conditioning, and water testing. After reading this Kordon Article it is recommended that you go on to read the Kordon Articles on these other topics.
Are The Water Requirements For Freshwater Aquariums Different Than For Freshwater Ponds?
An obvious difference is in size. Ponds are usually much bigger than aquariums with considerably more water. Having more water stabilizes water conditions, because ponds can be less affected by short-term changes. Therefore, ponds are usually more stable. Since most ponds are not heated, but reflect the ambient temperature of the environment, they are usually colder than most aquarium keeping. The lower the temperature, the more oxygen ponds can hold, providing better conditions for the fishes' respiration.
Another major difference is that most ponds are outdoors, with constant active air movement, providing a greater ability for the exhaled carbon dioxide by the organisms in the pond to be eliminated into the atmosphere, and oxygen to be constantly absorbed into the water. This provides an additional advantage for fpond fishes with the oxygen at higher levels in the pond than in the aquarium.
As for the water requirements, such as from tap water supplied by public water utilities, these are generally the same for pond and aquarium fishes. The coldwater fishes used for ponds are mainly goldfish and koi, cyprinid fishes that are known for their hardiness. If anything, it is easier to supply the water requirements for pond fishes than it is for tropical aquarium fishes.
What Water Sources Should Be Used For Aquariums And Ornamental Ponds?
There are multiple choices -- tap water from your public water supplier, well water, natural water from local streams, rivers, and lakes, and oceans (for marine fishes), bottled water, at times rain water, and treated water by ultraviolet radiation, or by deionization, or by reverse osmosis, or by protein skimmer. Of course, for most people, tap water straight out of the faucet, as supplied by the local public utility, is the most often used, particularly in pond keeping. All of these sources can be used if the proper precautions and treatment of the water are made, as will be discussed in the sections below.
If there is a problem with public water supplies from tap water, what about using specially prepared water, such as can be bought in a grocery store, or specially treated water such as can be prepared by an aquarist or pond keeper?
The problem with all of these waters, other than UV treated water, is that while they are "pure" waters, they may be too pure for the fishes' and aquatic invertebrates' breathing. These animals need electrolytes passing across their gills to expel carbon dioxide (CO2) and absorb oxygen (O2) necessary for their respiration. Also they need the trace, minor, and major elements for their health, growth, and reproduction.
Is water out of the tap safe to use for aquariums and ornamental ponds? Should bottled water from the store, or should RO (reverse osmosis) water, or deionized water be used instead? Most often it is just taken for granted that the tap water and other water sources for human consumption are safe to use for aquariums and ornamental ponds. But are they? The general truthful answer to these questions, particularly for fresh water conditions is "No, they are not safe to use without modifications by using the right water conditioners in the water." Keep in mind that water safe for human consumption can be harmful and lethal to fishes and aquatic invertebrates. Fish and other aquatic breathing animals may be surviving in these water sources, but they are not necessarily happy about it. What follows will tell you why.
Public polls of pet keepers over past decades have repeatedly shown that about 50% of new home aquarists drop out within the first six months of aquarium keeping. A recent survey has shown that over one third drop out within a year. The improvement is probably due to better supplies, equipment and knowledge. However, this still means that there are fundamental problems for which they have not learned the answer. Further inquiry has shown that they have made mistakes from not knowing the basics of water quality requirements for fishes and other aquatic breathing animals for successful aquarium keeping. Water is the essential ingredient in aquarium and pond keeping, but it also can be the harmer or killer when not properly understood and handled.
The Use Of Tap Water From Public Water Supplies For New Aquariums And Ponds And For Later Water Changes
There are over four thousand public water utilities in the U.S., utilizing over 170,000 resources for water supply.
As public water suppliers have increasing problems due to water pollution of natural aquifers (underground water supplies), rivers and lakes, it becomes ever harder for them to maintain disease and toxic-free water. Also, as the water pipe systems get older, many municipalities with their metal pipe systems being over one hundred years old and rusting at increased rates, have increasing problems keeping the water non-toxic and safe. The problem is that rusting pipes shed metals that are toxic to fishes and other aquatic life. All the corrugations in the pipes make it more likely that they will harbor pathogens that may avoid the treatments that public water utilities are putting into the water in ever increasing amounts. Longer pipe runs mean more "dead ends" in water flow that receive toxic rust from the pipes.
For example, the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), which monitors and regulates human water supplies and the public water utilities in the U.S., has recently announced to the public water utilities that chlorines up to 4 ppm are safe to add to the public water supplies. This amount is safe for humans, air breathing pets, and farm animals, but is toxic to fishes and aquatic invertebrates at less than 0.4 ppm (parts per million), which is 1/10th of the amount the EPA says can be added to public water supplies. This means that most public water utilities use an amount of chlorines in their water supply that is to some extent toxic to all water breathing animals, including fishes.
Not only that, for many public water utilities the use of chlorines is not toxic enough to kill the viruses and bacteria in their water sources. They have to use chloramines in the water, which are combinations of chlorines and ammonia. When these are used together, they greatly increase the sustained toxicity of the water to viruses and bacteria far beyond what would be if just chlorines were used. The chloramines also greatly increase the toxicity to aquarium and pond fishes and aquatic invertebrates.
While there are those in aquarium and pond keeping who scoff at the need to treat public water, they are in the minority in understanding how necessary it is to do so. If their fishes could talk, they would certainly tell them of their aches and pains over having to put up with untreated water.
More About Public (Municipal And Regional) Water Supplies
It is easy to overlook that the aquarist and pondkeeper have to be aware of what is coming out of the water tap, if they use this water in their aquariums and ponds. Public water suppliers have the obligation to provide water that is free of pathogens for human use and consumption, particularly from viruses and bacteria. The suppliers do not have any responsibility to provide satisfactory water for aquarium and pond keeping. In fact the two requirements are mostly incompatible. In order to meet the human requirements toxic chemicals are put in the water supply to kill pathogens, as advised or directed in the U.S. by the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and government agencies elsewhere. In fact the conditions and problems with toxic water supplies are universal around the world.
Those toxic chemicals that kill viruses and bacteria also harm or kill fishes and aquatic invertebrates, including the coral reef life used in marine aquariums. Many public water suppliers have Internet web sites describing their water conditions. A few discuss with warnings the problems that their water provides to aquarium and pond keepers. But mostly it is up to the aquarist and pond keeper to know what to do to keep their fishes alive and happy. This requires special chemicals such as provided in Kordon products, which will be discussed throughout this article.
What Are The Problems In Using Tap Water?
Therefore, to summarize what is said above. Since tap water from municipal water suppliers have to meet stringent requirements for being used as drinking water by humans, toxic substances need to be put in them to kill all viruses and bacteria. These are chlorines, chloramines, and ammonia, which are toxic to fishes and aquatic invertebrates. Special water conditioners need to be used to make them safe for aquatic life. Most important of these water conditioners are Kordon NovAqua+ and Kordon AmQuel+ which are further described below, in the Kordon Article "What You Need To Know About Water Conditioners...",, and under their Kordon product descriptions.
What About Using Well Water For Aquariums and Ponds?
It has been reported that up to 50% of the water supply to homes and businesses is from local wells, in some areas being up to 100%. Often well water is mixed in with water from other sources.
Well water should be tested to be sure it is free of pathogens, and to know to what extent mineralization is present in the water. Well water from underground aquifers can be high in toxic minerals such as arsenic, which is becoming more prevalent in well water as the level of aquifers is lowered. Well water can also pick up toxic organics from farm land if these are nearby. Since well water is passing through pipes, if there are any metallic pipes or fittings, such as bronze, brass, copper, lead, zinc, iron, or other heavy metal involved, a remover of such metals should be used. Kordon's NovAqua+ is recommended for this purpose, which also takes out other heavy metals as well, including arsenic. If there are pathogens present, the use of an effective ultraviolet sterilizer is recommended, as described below.
What About Bottled Water, RO (Reverse Osmosis) Water, and Deionized Water Such As Distilled Water?
If there is a problem with public water supplies, what about using instead specially prepared water, such as can be bought in a grocery store, or specially treated water such as can be prepared by an aquarist or pond keeper by using reverse osmosis or deionizer equipment?
As for bottled fresh water, this depends upon its source. If it is spring water or other natural water, usually sterilized to be free of bacteria and viruses, it will have all the elements that are needed for fish and aquatic animal health. It it is pure hydrogen dioxide, only having oxygen and hydrogen as its components, it should not be used without having additives because it will not have the major, minor and trace elements needed.
Bottled sea water for marine aquariums will be of help in those areas of the country that have poor water quality. However, most areas will have adequate water quality and the use of a good quality sea salt mix, such as Kordon's Coral Sea will take care of any missing or insufficient elements (major, minor, and trace), as well as essential organics (including vitamins).
The problem with RO, Deionized, or similar prepared water that is purified -- all of these waters may be too pure for the fishes' and aquatic invertebrates' breathing. These animals need electrolytes passing across their gills to expel carbon dioxide (CO2) and absorb oxygen (O2) necessary for their respiration, and they need the range of major, minor, and trace elements required for their health, physiology, and reproduction. Such water needs at least the essential electrolytes and vitamins which will be provided by the Kordon NovAqua products, and the trace elements provided by the Kordon VitaTrace fresh water and salt water products.
In considering the use of UV sterilizers, as a general rule, tap water from public water suppliers will be a satisfactory source of water for using UV sterilizers.
What About The Use Of UV (Ultraviolet) To Sterilize Water?
UV Sterilizers kill microscopic organisms that are free floating in the water, which are passed by the UV light bulb by a water pump. In much of aquarium and pond keeping these are not needed. However, if there are free-floating bacteria, viruses, algae, or free-swimming protozoans in the water that are of harm to the fishes, this is a beneficial treatment of water that has no adverse side effects for fishes, invertebrates, and plants.
What About Ocean Water For Marine Aquarium Keeping?
Particularly in urban areas, it can be dangerous to use untreated coastal sea water for marine aquariums. One of the problems is that coastal municipalities dump their sewage into the ocean, often right next to their communities. These will be high in aquatic pathogens, particularly important being the viruses and bacteria. These pathogens spread along the coast, so that even many miles away from the sewage outfall, the pathogens can be prevalent and a serious problem. If ocean water is used, it should be run through a sufficiently effective ultraviolet sterilizer so that all living organisms free-floating in the water will be killed. This means having the water tested to be sure all living organisms, including the microscopic viruses and bacteria are all killed by the UV unit being used.
To avoid the pathogens in natural sea water, It is far safer to use a high quality sea-salt mix for preparing marine aquariums. Kordon's Coral Sea is recommended as a professional grade sea-salt mix with all the major, minor, and trace elements present needed for fish and coral-reef animal health, physiology, growth, and reproduction.
What About Water Directly From Streams, Rivers and Lakes for Aquariums and Ponds?
These have similar problems to what ocean water has. Water is usually taken in the vicinity of municipalities that dump there sewage in the local water ways, and these can be high in pathogens, including bacteria, such as Salmonella for which the same species are of harm to both man and fishes. If water directly from streams, rivers and lakes is used, it should be run through a sufficiently effective ultraviolet sterilizer so that all living organisms in the water will be killed. This means having the water tested to be sure all living organisms, including the microscopic viruses and bacteria are all killed by the UV unit being used.
What About the Water That Is Filtered By the Water Filters Used in Aquariums And Ponds? Regular filters are essentially for two purposes -- to filter the particles out of the water, and if activated carbon is used, to filter out the toxic nitrogen compounds, such as ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates (see the Kordon Article "Biological Filtration..). These filters are important for many aquariums and ponds and should be used.
What About the Water That Goes Through A Protein Skimmer?
Protein Skimmers have essentially the same purpose as the regular aquarium and pond filters described above. One of their main purposes, the same as for regular aquarium and pond filters, is to provide aeration and water circulation of the water in order to discharge carbon dioxide out of the water and bring oxygen into the water. Protein skimmers usually work best on saltwater aquariums and are mainly used in marine and crowded freshwater aquariums as a filter to get rid of organic waste materials in the water. Their use often includes getting rid of nitrates and other nitrogen compounds in the water.
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