The Puffer Forum

The big issue is the copper. Have you ever tested to see what the concentration of the copper is in the water? AquaSafe claims to remove heavy metals and I really would not doubt it because chealation of copper is not that difficult.

I would wait out doing water changes for right now as long as the parameters look good.

LOL heavy metals. Sorry, that one makes me giggle every time I hear it. Right along with "enhances slime coat". Its just one of those phrases we're used to hearing but no one really seems to know what it means.

If the house is new, it likely doesn't have copper pipes, it should have PVC. There's probably a lot of iron content in the water, but that's never hurt my fish

The risk with bottled water is it might not even come close to matching the tank/tap water... especially if its filtered by RO. So then you'd have to worry about buffering it, or do such small changes you might as well wait the week until you can get some dechlor.

Isn't copper a heavy metal?

Sorry for another useless post but the new topics seems to have shifted to my crappy well water and the things I do to counteract that...instead of pertaining to the original question asked by the author of this topic. >.>

I think you got your answer. Or are you still confused? But I think what we're trying to do is figure out whether your well water is safe as is.

Myaj wrote:The risk with bottled water is it might not even come close to matching the tank/tap water... especially if its filtered by RO. So then you'd have to worry about buffering it, or do such small changes you might as well wait the week until you can get some dechlor.

It shouldn't take more than half an hour to acclimate them to a new pH. If a single water change is performed slowly, it ought to be okay. Unless it's RO water, of course - then it shouldn't be used un-buffered.

ATG, for a bit there, I thought you were the original poster coming back to update that they were on well water.

My apologies to the OP! Hope the conversation helped you one way or another, any more ?'s feel free to ask!

As far as the copper being a heavy metal, I don't think its commonly found in ground water sources, but I could be wrong. I'm a bit confused as to why a new house would have rusty pipes, as most new construction (well for the last 20 years or so LOL) has used PVC, at least on the cold water pipes. Copper leeching out of the pipes shouldn't be a concern, unless its very old construction. Right up there with people worrying about water that went through their hot water heater..

Myaj wrote: Right up there with people worrying about water that went through their hot water heater..

I think i missed the reference..

Myaj wrote:ATG, for a bit there, I thought you were the original poster coming back to update that they were on well water.

Oops, me too! Sorry, rachy!

I mean its just one of those common "fishkeeping tales" that people accept without questioning.

Copper leeching out of the pipes, aquarium salt is good for all fish, water that goes through a hot water heater isn't safe, you need to "enhance the slime coat", etc etc.

thanks for your help everyone!! all the tanks except for 1 of the baby tanks are reading ok, the baby tank has got traces of ammonia tho if its not gonna hurt anything, then ill just leave the others, and maybe take some water out of 1 of the bigger tanks to do wc on the baby tank, would this be ok?

That sounds like a good idea to me. I think your adult tank will be 1000% fine for quite some time without a regular weekly water change, provided that they are in good health now. Short-term exposure to extra nitrates shouldn't hurt them.

Agreed, that sounds like a good plan.

Don't run out of dechlor again!

well snow has cleared quite a bit 2day, so i can go get some 2moro all fish look fine, so no harm done!

I hate running low on declor! I started to order the large bottle of prime from Dr.Fosters and smith..The one that treats 5000 gallons...If you google Dr. F&S coupon codes you can get $5 off and with shipping at $5.99 right now you can get it for around $12 and some change shipped to your house..it lasts a while and beats most LFS prices.