Cycling New Tank With Well Water, Do I Need To Add Water Conditioner?

Hello all! I started my fishless cycle 4 days ago, currently my levels are: ammonia- 2, pH- 7.5, Kh- 12, gh-20, nitrites-0, nitrates-0. Before any body asks I have a 10 gallon with a sponge filter, heater at 82 (for cycling, will lower before adding fish), gravel, silk plants, terra cotta pots, and the lighting that came with the tank (topfin in starter kit). I'm using Dr. Tim's ammonia as well.

My question is, should I add any water conditioner since my water is not chlorinated? If I should, do I do it now or before and during having fish? I currently have Seachems prime and various topfin or API conditioners. Or is there something else I should add for fish health? Or possible leave it all be?

For those that would like to know, I plan on stocking a male betta and either shrimp or a snail.

Thank you in advance!

 

Conditioners are used to get rid of chlorine, nothing else. Since you do not have chlorine in the water conditioners are not necessary. I used to use conditioner when I first started until I realized my water came from a well too. Life is beautiful now that I can just open a hose and dump water into my tanks.

Good health is determined by space, clean water and good quality food. If your water needed water conditioner you would have to always apply it. Chlorine kills bacteria(your "cycle") too, not just fish.

 

Ok thank you very much!

 

Conditioners are used to get rid of chlorine, nothing else. Since you do not have chlorine in the water conditioners are not necessary. I used to use conditioner when I first started until I realized my water came from a well too. Life is beautiful now that I can just open a hose and dump water into my tanks.

Good health is determined by space, clean water and good quality food. If your water needed water conditioner you would have to always apply it. Chlorine kills bacteria(your "cycle") too, not just fish.

Hi, great advice, the less we put in chemical wise the better.

 

I'm also one of the spoiled few with a good well. Nothing extra needed.

 

I have have well water as well. I use it just as a safety precaution with heavy metals that might be coming out of the well. Its a personal preference of mine

 

You should keep some SeaChem Prime on hand in case your ammonia spikes when you put the fish in. It will detox the ammonia/nitrite for a day or two.

But it doesn't sound necessary for your well water since it isn't chlorinated and is ground filtered.

 

Check to see if your water has heavy metals in it first, just to be sure. If it has high levels of heavy metal then use a conditioner. My well water has heavy metals in it that require me to use a conditioner.

 

Check to see if your water has heavy metals in it first, just to be sure. If it has high levels of heavy metal then use a conditioner. My well water has heavy metals in it that require me to use a conditioner.

I had the same problem. If you get rust around the toilet or tub you have high iron. If you get white lines around the sink you have heavy minerals. Both require Prime to detox. Your well may be fine though. I'm on a well and feel better using Prime myself. I rent and do not know what's in the well here.

 

I have have well water as well. I use it just as a safety precaution with heavy metals that might be coming out of the well. Its a personal preference of mine

You make a very good point about heavy metals. That's why I still kept using conditioner for a while even after I found out I did not have chlorine. I stopped using it a while ago and none of my fish have died, I even kept daphnia on my tap water with no ill effects(daphnia is sensitive to heavy metals). If you are worried about heavy metals or actually have heavy metals as far as my limited knowledge goes I think you would actually need special filtration, that is what I was told by two fish store owners and it made sense from my google research. That is why I stopped using the conditioner, since they told me it had no effect in some heavy metals.

I forgot the name right now but they are membranes that exchange heavy metals for less dangerous substances. They are used in pool filtration sometimes. I know that what I am saying makes no sense since I don't remember the name of the membranes. Ill try to remember them.

 

I don't get rust or white stuff from my well, but I do get buildups of green in the shower. Need to clean shower with Lime Away. What does that say about the use of my well water without conditioner? Don't want to put the little fishies in their own personal Love Canal.

 

That’s an indicator of hard water because of the minerals in your water. I have the same issue with my well water but has had no effect on my aquariums.

 

Awesome, thanks.

 

Thank you for the advise. I just wasn't sure since my water is on the harder side.