tony

I usually clean my filters with well water. I know that chlorine in the water can kill the bacteria in the filter but there is no chlorine in my well water so does that mean i can clean my filters with it?

p.s. I have bio-wheels too. So they should make up for at least some of the dead bacteria, right?

Thank you!

Alessa

they should, but to be completely safe, id clean them with used tank water.

tony

Well can i use well water for my water changes? as long as there arent any ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates and the ph is good?

Slug

Truthfully when ever i do the monthly major filter cleaning, i just take them to the sink and wash them with tap water. Never had a problem. There should be enough bacteria still on items in the tank to be fine.

tony

Me too! lol. but can put well water into my tank? For the water changes?

Alessa

it really isnt recommended at all... one of these days all the bacteria may die setting you up to a mini cycle...

Like chickadee already said in another thread, do not expect fish tanks and filters to be immaculately clean, because they will not. There is no reason to wash your filters in tap or unterated water because that "green slime" growing in them is keeping your fish alive and happy. A good swish in USED TANK WATER is all the filter needs to get rid of the extra dirty stuff in it.

even if you test your water after every single of those "tap water filter cleanings" (do you?) you may not see the spikes, but it does not mean they are not there, it is just that they are too little to be seen, but even little ammounts of ammonia and nitrite are harmful to fish.

and tony, most of the time well water does not have either of those above mentioned chemicals. it is the chlorhine, chloramines and heavy metals sometimes present in tap or well water that are dangerous to the bacteria. And to fish. If you are positive that your well water is as pure as it can be, then if you want, do the water changes with it. although if it was me I would still treat it... a gallon of treated water is just 3 drops of Prime water conditioner.

I dont mean to sound mean but really, by keeping that filter shiny clean the only thing you are doing is risking its purpose.

COBettaCouple

Well water can be used, but should be treated with water conditioner just like tap water. There can be heavy metals, etc in well water that would be harmful to the fish. Prime would be good to use.

What we do with our filters is swish the filter media in some removed tank water each week when we do the weekly tank cleaning.

tony

Well I know that our water is not the best. It is very hard, but we do have a water softener. The water is high in sulfur and iron. I have tested it and it has no ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates and the ph is 7. But can i use well water with prime conditioner even though my water isnt the best?

Alessa

yes, the prime will make it good.

tony

Ok. Thank you.

tony

I just found some conditioner that i already have. It says that it removes toxins, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Can i use it?

This is a picture of it http://www.petmountain.com/product/w...quel-plus.html

COBettaCouple

Amquel+ is a good product, I used it before finding Prime. It's not as good as Prime, but is good.