[Susan @ MB Window Cleaning]

Right I have a 120litre tropical tank.
you can harm your fish with 100% Pure water as they need minerals.
1 week to let the water settle?
that is completely inaccurate, you need to cycle the tank first.
this can take between 4 and 8 weeks to do.
What you are actually doing is getting the right bacteria breeding in the water.
you need ammonia to start the cycle, this can be fish food etc.
once you have ammonia (this is poisonous to fish) you need to get rid of this, This is where the bacteria comes into it, you need Nitrosomonas to turn Ammonia into Nitrites and then a bacteria called Nitrobacter to turn the nitrites into Nitrates.
this is called the Nitrogen Cycle.

plus depending on what fish you want will determnine what PH your tank should be, 100% pure water will have a PH of 5 which is soft and acidic, ideal for oscars etc. now tap water is usually 7-7.5 which is ideal for most tropical fish.
 
Going back to the cycle you can buy the 2 types of bacteria, I use Tetra safe start and I just throw the whole lot into the tank (100ml Bottle)

Also when you use tap water you will need aqua safe to isaolate the chloromines and chlorines which are harmful to fish

I use 60% pure to 40% tap water this way the fish gets the minerals.



Matt

I think that Matt should have said RO water rather than Pure Water

Pure Water does have a pH of 7

But RO water has a pH of 5

please look at the following link www.h20heals.com/images/pH_Color_Chart_Large.jpg

Hope this clarifies the pH levels for everyone!

Susan

[Susan @ MB Window Cleaning]

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.h20heals.com/images/pH_Color_Chart_Large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.h20heals.com/pH-Scale-N-Your-Body.html&usg=__WnAGQYxNVStLYfak6D5xqqXgavU=&h=1950&w=750&sz=482&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=ElOXxnwiBPD8RM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=58&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dph%2Bscale%2Bchart%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1

Sorry guys that link didn't seem to work!

This one should!

Susan

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

pH is determined by hydrogen ions, and as we pass the water through a DI vessel we lose those ions thus making the waters pH 5 which is more acidic.

And yes I should of said RO water instead of pure water.




Matt

[Ian101]

If you dont know what you are doing keeping fish why contemplate buying any. Chances are it'll die if you dont have any previous knowledge.

Start reading internet fish-keeping forums, dont ask window cleaners how to keep fish man.

Would you ask someone who owned a fish-shop how to change a cars gear-box?

You will find out if you stick around long enough on here that the guys are a font of all knowledge and also most helpful !

I got banned off all the fisk keeping forums for asking questions about window cleaning.

[Elfords Carpet and Window Cleaning]

You reckon?

Well, its a shame no-one else has suggessted you should revise your chosen hobby in a responsible manner (that doesnt include asking window cleaners) as you are looking after animals, I therefore suggest you havent been given anything like the kind of advise you need to hear. Go back to your fishkeeping forums and ask again, if not for your sake but the fish.

[Ian101]

The fish are all good ... Only asked about the purified water cos I was doing a partial water change and thought maybe ro water may be better than tap water with treatment chemicals ... Was only wanting to know in case I could have made their environment better .... Don't make me out to be someone who don't care for animals when u don't even know me .... Lazy poster by not using a fish forum fair enough but not a numpty who don't care for animals in my care ... Used old fashioned thing called a book to find answer