[Ian101]

The Mrs went and bought an aquarium ... just wondering does anyone know can I use purified water in it ??

not exactly a window cleaning topic but any experianced aquarium keepers on here

I be a dead man if all the fish died 

[Ian101]

not saltwater just normal tropical

[darren clarke]

i bought some goldfish the other week and the shop wouldnt sell me any fish even after i told them i had a di,  said the water needs a week to settle,

[chris@c.m.s]

See here www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=100596.0

[Elfords Carpet and Window Cleaning]

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?

[Sapphire 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

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

I see you already have the fish in the tank.
right you need to buy some safe start right away this will kick start the cycle. also use 60% RO to 40% tap water that has been dechlorinated with aqua safe.
then you need to buy a liquid water test kit.
API Freshwater master kits are the best around and cost around £15 of ebay.
you need to check the water daily, and may even have to do 10% water changes daily until the tank is cycled.


Matt

[tacky]

flush the fish down the toilet .sell the tank . no problems .











      only joking guys thats what our neighbours were going to do .we now have 5 goldfish n 1 tank for nowt

[Elfords Carpet and Window Cleaning]

 
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)


Matt

Its funny how these companies make money for just about nothing. The best way to start a tank cycling is to urinate in it. Your only supplying a food source for bacteria to start their growth and colonise a tank, which is all that you are getting when you buy this stuff from companies like API. If you dont like the thought of urine just use vinegar instead, or coca-cola (not diet coke).

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

I managed to cycle my tank in only 4 days with safe start and a little gunk from a mature filter media.

API test kits are rated as one of the best test kits on the market.

I have a problem when I got back from portugal, I am one tuxedo platy and one clown loach down, looked in the filter not in there, looked under all the rocks and bark and no sign, not even any signs on bones etc, as I thought the other 2 clown loach may of eaten them. 

[Elfords Carpet and Window Cleaning]

API have their finger in a few too many retail magazines Matt, we all know how money talks, ask Ionics 

The most reliable test kits on the market are without a doubt Salifert.

API and all those other cheap brands aren't worth the cardboard the boxes are made from.

I wouldnt trust the result of any of those test kits, that might explain your fish deaths. Inaccurate results.

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

I havent had any inaccurate results lol
why would the test kit be the cause of 2 fish disappearing?
the recommended retail price for the API kits is £29.99 thats for the small master kit.
my water parameters have been consistant and I have 3 different test kits.

[Window Washers]

I havent had any inaccurate results lol
why would the test kit be the cause of 2 fish disappearing?
the recommended retail price for the API kits is £29.99 thats for the small master kit.
my water parameters have been consistant and I have 3 different test kits.

Matt my dad owns an aquatics shop if you even need any answers to questions

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Ian I have been keeping tropical fish for years mate lol
 

[Window Washers]

Ian I have been keeping tropical fish for years mate lol
 

oh sorry, you looked like a train spotter to me 

[Elfords Carpet and Window Cleaning]

I havent had any inaccurate results lol
why would the test kit be the cause of 2 fish disappearing?
the recommended retail price for the API kits is £29.99 thats for the small master kit.
my water parameters have been consistant and I have 3 different test kits.

Because if the test kits are giving inaccurate results you quite possibly have water that isnt as suitable as it should be.

API are notoriously over-priced and inaccurate.

[weetot]

The guy in my local chippy changes your oil and filter.

[Count Phil]

Listen to MB window cleaning.

I don't use any pure water tho. I just mature my tap water - \leave it to stand for a while so the chlorine comes out.

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

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.
Matt

That is just utterly, totally wrong in every aspect.  Pure water's pH is 7 by definition.  If you have pure water with nothing dissolved in it, what is making its pH anything but 7?  It's impossible.

Unfortunately, in my mind that renders the rest of your advice suspect.

PW.

Pure water is soft water, the softer the water the more acidic it becomes. FACT!
This is why pure water corrodes van floors quicker than normal tap water.

[Elfords Carpet and Window Cleaning]

According to some on here it corrodes metal faster because it 'absorbs' better than normal water.

Make your mind up fellas