Tap water for FW, RO for SW?

[hwofnt]

What are you using for freshwater tanks: tap water with conditioner or RO/DI purified water? I know that for saltwater tanks the last is strongly recommended. But what about FW, especially if people mentioned that they are using Python.

Water still contains fluoride, traces of copper, raised alkalinity and more.

[Carl]

In most instances tap water is fine for freshwater use as added minerals (AKA salt mixes) are not often added. In fact pure RO water is not healthy for freshwater fish as there are not adequate minerals for osmoregulation.

You need to determine what your tap water chemistry is and then add buffers, minerals, peat, Almond Leaves, etc to adjust to the aquatic environment desired for the fish to be kept.
It is also noteworthy that freshwater bodies of water vary greatly unlike most marine bodies of water (there are exceptions of coarse such as the Red Sea and Sea of Cortez).

Use of products such as Prime will render tap water safe for most freshwater uses.
For Amazon River water (or SE Asia) I will blend Tap water with 25-50% RO water and then add essential mineral ions back in with products such as SeaChem Replenish and/or Wonder Shells

See these articles:
*Aquarium Answers; Tap Water in Aquariums
*Aquarium Answers; Proper Osmotic Function
*Aquarium Calcium, Chemistry, pH, GH, KH, Amazon River Water

Carl

[hwofnt]

Thank you! It is good to know.