Annadvn

Since we have now moved to Idaho and i have most of the boxes unpacked. I decided to test the water coming from the tap and from the irrigation water we have for our garden (not for using in the house). Since testing the water for both results i am unsure which would be better for the fish. The irrigation water is free and is moved around in open canals, my concern with this is the potential fertilizers getting into the water from the farmers (and the people who drown in the canals around here all the time!) The tap water on the other hand i would still have to use stress coat or other chlorine removers and it will significantly increase our water bill each month (water is not cheap in a dessert).

results of the water i tested are as follows:

Tap water:

ammonia 0.5ppm
nitrite 0
nitrate 10ppm
pH 7.8
Copper 0
GH 12 DKH
KH 8DkH
Phosphorus - not tested

Irrigation water:

Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20ppm
pH 7.5
Copper 0
GH 13 DkH
KH 13DkH
Phosphorus 0.5ppm

So which do you think would be better for our fish (we have African/SA/CA cichlids, loaches, rainbows and a few assorted others)

Anna

harpua2002

Sounds like your tap water would be better.