Freshwater

In This Chapter
Chapter 12
All Water Is Not
Created Equal
Considering the pros and cons of tap water, rainwater, bottled water, and well water
Realizing why you shouldn’t put water from a pond, lake, or river in your aquarium
Adding water to your aquarium
Adding the correct type of water to your aquarium is very important to
the long-term health of your fish. Water can be obtained from many
sources, but only a few of these sources provide the correct requirements for
your aquatic pets. Understanding the correct water parameters for your tank
and choosing reliable water sources can help you become a successful hobbyist
right off the bat.
For example, Maddy’s college biology professor made her class look at pond
water through a microscope. She could barely believe her eyes. There must
have been 800 billion creatures crawling in it. Remember that almost any natural
source of water has some type of living organism in it. In the wild, fish
are not confined to a small amount of water, so the threat of illness is small.
You need to find alternative sources of water if you want your fish to be
healthy and happy.
Depending on where you live, your water supply from the city or from a well
can vary greatly. Some water sources have more metal content and debris
than others. One farm Maddy lived on had water that was so thick in iron it
had the appearance of a melted down automobile. Never assume that your
main water source is automatically safe for your fish because it can contain
contaminates such as rust.