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Recently I visited one of my friend’s house. As he has well in the backyard as a newbie in fish keeping, he was asking me “Is well water good for guppies?”
| No, well water is not good for guppies, if used without treating it. Further, well water lacks the oxygen level and also contains other containment. Well water is rich in mineral content, so you should condition before use. |
In this article, I will answer a few more questions related to well water:
–> Can guppies live in well water?
–> Advantages and disadvantages of using well water for guppies
–> Can you treat well water? If yes how?
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Can Guppies Live In Well Water?
No, guppies cannot live in well water because of lower dissolved oxygen, water hardness, pH level, and risk of bacteria or contaminants.
Guppies Well Water
One of the advantages of well water is like tap water, there is no chlorine.
Just because it is well water new fish keepers believe it to be pure, clean and unpolluted.
Well water is polluted by road runoff, drilling, farming and industrial chemicals, but still, it might appear clear and clean.
The pollution harms guppies health and may even die.
Many people on social media ask “Do Guppies Like Well Water?” – Yes, guppies like well water as it is high in minerals but you should check water parameters and treat it correctly.
Can You Use Well Water For Guppy Fish?
Most often many fish keepers prefer to use well water for guppy fish after treating it.
Advantages of using well water for guppies
Availability
Well water is a natural source of water and is easily available at home.
Chlorine-free
Tap water has chlorine, chloramine, and other chemicals while well water does not have these chemicals.
You need to test the well water and if you find out that it matches guppies water parameters then you can use well water for guppy fish.
Problems of using well water for guppies
Lower dissolved oxygen
The surface water has more oxygen as compared to underground water. Well water is underground water and so, the level of oxygen is low.
To increase the level of oxygen you can add an air stone or air pump.
Water hardness and pH levels
The pH levels and water hardness depend on the area where you live.
So, if you are staying near oceans then the well water is more alkaline and if you are living near the lake then the well water is acidic.
In both cases, you need to measure water hardness and pH level and raise or drop accordingly to make it good for guppies.
Risk Of Containments
Well water is groundwater that is in contact with soil.
The soil has fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants which are not good for guppies.
After knowing the pros and cons of using well water, you must be eager to know how to make well water safe for guppies.
How To Make Well Water Safe For Guppies?
Listed are some easy steps to make well water safe for guppies:
Test Water Quality Of Well
Verify the water parameters with the help of API Master Kit and Safe Home Well Water Test Kit to check water hardness, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and pH levels, coliform bacteria, lead, iron, chlorine, copper, calcium, carbonate, and fluoride.
Filter the Well Water
If water parameters are not ideal then you need to install water filter system to purify well water and make it good for guppies.
When water parameters are optimal, then you can straight away use well water for guppies.
Adjust Water Hardness and pH level
If the water is soft then you can perform water change, clean the substrate, and alkalinity buffers. You can also add aragonite, limestone, crushed corals and dolomite rock to raise water hardness of well water.
When well water is hard then use acid buffers, distilled water, reverse osmosis (RO) system/ deionization (DI) filter, peat moss and Indian almond leaf drops well water hardness.
What Is The Effect Of Well Water Pumped Directly Into A Guppy Fish Tank?
Pumping well water directly into a guppy fish tank harms guppies health and may even die soon.
Well Water Guppies
Guppies are sensitive and too much fluctuation in water parameters badly impacts their well-being and growth. Hence, it is not a good idea to pump well water directly into a guppy aquarium.
If the well is near the sea, then water salinity is above guppies tolerable limit, and dies instantly.
These are the reasons why you should not directly pump well water into a guppy fish tank.
Conclusion
Guppies cannot live in well water because it is highly polluted and needs to be treated before use.
There are some benefits and disadvantages that you should consider before use.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment box.
FAQS
Do Guppies Do Well Alone?
No, guppies cannot do well alone as they will feel stress and become prone to disease.
Can You Treat Well Water?
Yes, you can treat well water with a water filter system.
Happy Guppy Keeping!
I am Alexa with 5+ years of experience in fishkeeping industry with expertise in taking care of guppies, aquariums, and dealing with diseases. Moreover, I am lovely wife, dedicated mom, and passionate guppy fish keeper. If you are into guppy fish keeping like me, you are in the right place. Explore the blog, ask questions, and enjoy guppy fishkeeping journey with GuppyAdvisor.
