Are you wondering if your clownfish can live in tap water? Do you want to learn how to make tap water safe for your clownfish? In this article, we will find out if you can use tap for your clownfish.
Can you use tap water for clownfish? Tap water alone will kill your clownfish because they require salt water. You can make tap water safe for your clownfish in their saltwater aquariums. Let’s find out how.
Can Clownfish Live In Tap Water Alone?
Certainly not. Clownfish are tropical fish and they require saltwater to survive. If you simply place clownfish in a tank full of tap water, you’re in for trouble. Say goodbye to your clownfish. This will most certainly kill them.
A freshwater dip in tap water is fine for a very brief moment. They usually last up to 5 minutes and help to relieve velvet or brook parasites that can attach to a clownfish.
Tap water must be made safe for a saltwater aquarium in order for your clownfish to thrive.
Can You Use Tap Water In an Aquarium for Clownfish?
Yes. It’s important to note that tap water is treated for humans to consume. The water treatment plants do not consider fish in an aquarium, so it’s our job to make it suitable.
If you want to introduce tap water to your clownfish, you need to treat the water first and get rid of its impurities.
What Are the Problems With Tap Water?
Tap water could have lots of sediment built up in it. Some of these compounds are listed below:
- Ammonia
- Nitrates
- Chloramine
The health of your clownfish will be affected by these harsh compounds. It will also affect the stability of the entire tank for all marine life.
How Can We Make Tape Water Safe For Clownfish?
We can start by treating the tap water with a conditioner. The point of these conditioners is to remove the compounds and solids such as chloramine from the tank before we introduce the clownfish into it.
If we leave the solids in our tank without treating them, it could turn into a full blown tank failure with dead clownfish. Let’s try to avoid that at all costs.
- Check with your city’s water treatment plant: Ask them what additives are in the water and how they treat it.
- Buy an RODI unit: This is the best way to treat the aquarium, but not everyone uses it. It will make life easier if you get one.
- Remove the chloramine from the water: Some conditioners do not do this, so make sure you use one that says it can.
Do Clownfish Need an RODI System To Treat the Tap Water in Their Tank?
The RODI system is a reverse osmosis filtration unit. If you want to use tap water for your clownfish, then it’s easier to use this system to remove chemicals that are harmful for your clownfish.
You can buy aquarium water instead, but it will end up being more expensive. An RODI system will be more convenient and cheaper over time. Your clownfish will thank you for it.
The more stages in an RODI system, the more the tap water will be filtered and suitable for clownfish.
What Levels Should I Test For My Clownfish Aquarium?
Once your aquarium is made safe, there are some levels that need to be tested. The first step is to ensure that the tap water is now safely turned into saltwater and suitable for your clownfish.
Test:
- Alkalinity
- Calcium
- Phosphate
- Nitrate
Also make sure the water requirements for your clownfish are suitable. The following are simply recommendations:
- 29 gallons or 130 liters or water
- Salinity level of 1.020-1.025
- 72-78°F or 22-26°C water temperature
- Check water quality once a week.
- Change the volume of water every 2 to 4 weeks at least 10-25%.
What Are Other Filters Are Necessary for Clownfish to Live in Tap Water Based Aquariums?
The filters include:
- Carbon block filter
- Sediment filter
- DI resin filter
- RO membrane
The filters and RODI system will save you time and effort instead of trying to obtain ready-made or suitable water for clownfish. This process takes a little time upfront, but it runs smoothly and makes tap water acceptable for your clownfish.
What Much Salt Do Clownfish Need With A Tap Water Tank?
Now that the tap water has been treated and conditioned, we must add the salt before the clownfish. Salinity levels must be measured carefully.
Clownfish enjoy salinity levels of about 1.020 to 1.025. 1.026 is recommended by some fish keepers, but it’s best to not go over that amount.
Start with 1 tablespoon for 3 gallons of water. Measure the salinity levels and go from there. This is a delicate process so please take your time.
Conclusion
You can use tap water for clownfish. They are not the hardest fish to take care of, but they need some attention. Take your time to treat the tap water first. Add the necessary amount of salt. You could obtain the filters, RODI system and conditioner to treat the tap water first.
Clownfish water requirements are listed carefully here and elsewhere. Check your levels to see if you have succeeded in turning your tap water into suitable water for your clownfish.
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