What is the best water for fish farming? ——The impact of different water qualities on fish health an

Fish farming is an interesting and challenging activity, and water quality is one of the key factors affecting fish health. Many novice fish lovers will ask: What water is best for fish farming? Can tap water be used directly? Are well water, purified water, and mineral water suitable for fish farming? Different types of fish have different requirements for water quality, so choosing the right water quality is crucial to the health and growth of fish.

This article will discuss in detail the characteristics of different water sources, the impact of water quality on fish, how to adjust water quality, and how to maintain a healthy aquarium environment, to help you provide the most suitable water environment for your fish.

1. Water quality requirements for fish farming

Whether it is freshwater fish or marine fish, they need suitable water quality conditions to grow healthily. Generally speaking, ideal fish farming water should have the following characteristics:

1.1 Basic requirements for water

✅ Clean and pollution-free: The water must not contain chemicals that are harmful to fish, such as heavy metals, pesticides, chlorine, etc.
✅ Suitable pH value:

• Freshwater fish usually adapt to pH 6.5-7.5.

• Marine fish adapt to pH 8.0-8.5.
  ✅ Adequate oxygen content: Dissolved oxygen (DO) should be maintained between 5-7mg/L to meet the breathing needs of fish.
  ✅ Moderate hardness: Different fish have different requirements for water hardness. Generally, freshwater fish adapt to water with low to medium hardness (GH 4-12).
  ✅ No harmful gases: Harmful substances such as chlorine, ammonia nitrogen (NH₃), and nitrate (NO₃⁻) should be minimized.

2. Advantages and disadvantages of different water sources

Common water sources on the market include tap water, well water, groundwater, mineral water, purified water and rainwater, and each water source has different characteristics.

2.1 Tap water - most commonly used but needs to be treated

✅ Advantages:

• Easy to obtain, relatively stable water quality.

• After disinfection, usually free of pathogens and parasites.

❌ Disadvantages:

• Contains chlorine (Cl₂) or chloramines, which are toxic to fish and need to be let to stand or dechlorinate before use.

• The water may be hard and unsuitable for some soft-water fish.

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