Can I use distilled water in a fish tank?

[Unicorn]

We have hard water that leaves calcium/lime stains and I just bought a new fish tank yesterday and don't want it to get yucky. Cost isn't really a factor, since the tank is only 1 1/2 gal. We only have 1 little neon tetra.

So, is it ok to use distilled water, or would that have problems of its own?

[Whisperlily]

Yes, it's actually recommended.

Otherwise you should allow tapwater to sit out for 24 hours so some of the chemicals can evaporate before subjecting the fish to treated water. :)

[Unicorn]

Thanks! I have never seen it recommended, and I hate having to wait 24 hrs. Our tank seems to evaporate quickly and being able to add water immediately is good for "Fish" (that's his actual name, btw).

[nmoira]

I'd always heard that it is not recommended (except for topping up) because distilled water has no buffering capacity. Here's are a couple pages that popped up when I googled "distilled water fish tank."

http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-chem.html

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/purewatr.htm

[Ellie]

I've never heard its being recommended, either. I wouldn't use it.

[siloam]

We have hard water that leaves calcium/lime stains and I just bought a new fish tank yesterday and don't want it to get yucky. Cost isn't really a factor, since the tank is only 1 1/2 gal. We only have 1 little neon tetra.

So, is it ok to use distilled water, or would that have problems of its own?

If you have a water filter, you can use the water from that without sitting out for 24 hours. Filters pull the chlorine out as well, which if I remember right, is the substance that having is sit for 24 hours clears out.

Heather

[Tap, tap, tap]

I used to buy "spring water" in the gallon and used that when I didn't have time to filter it. It can sit in the pantry and is already room temp when you are ready to go. Just to be safe I would check the label to make sure it hasn't been chlorinated.


"Drinking water" has chlorine so don't use it unless you open it and leave it out.

"Distilled" is a no, no for fish.

[mcconnellboys]

I always thought distilled water had the oxygen removed through the boiling process. I would think fish would die with no oxygen, unless perhaps you're using a pump that will quickly re-oxygenate the water.....

We always use spring water. The pet store folks I've talked to say that even this, over the long term, may be too cleansed of minerals, etc. to be good for the fish (so what should we do, add Pellegrino?) I add in start right and other things to try to help balance the water.

Regena

[Whisperlily]

A quick internet search says the other posters are right and I answered too quickly. The pet store where we purchased our fish recommended distilled water... I wonder if that's why our fish always had a hard time? :eek:

[Unicorn]

Okay, no distilled water. I guess I'll just start using the Brita filtered water and see if that cuts down on the stains. Thanks everyone!

[Holly IN]

so many different responses....

Petstore told me distilled water. Now some here are saying distilled is a no no but some are saying it is ok.

Yikes! Can we get a straight answser on this one? I have a fish tank and have always used distilled with no problem.

Holly

[Montana Peach]

We use tap water and a water conditioner/chlorine remover to avoid the 24 hour waiting thing. We have a 30 gallon tank and as dry as it is here, it evaporates out about 5 gallons every 2 weeks if you can believe that. It's crazy. we have pretty hard water but the water conditioner helps a lot. I also have a sponge saved just for the tank and tun it around the inside at the top when I refill to remove any buildup.