First Tank Ever

[Shirl]

Hi folks,

I'm so new to this hobby, I still have the New Fishkeeper smell. 

My tank is on the way, and I'm assembling the things I need. First thing to arrive was the Aquarium Co-op test strips, so I tested my tap water. 

Here's what I have:

Nitrate 10, Nitrite 0, GH 150-300. (I'm not quite sure which one it is based on color, but I'm leaning to the 150), Buffer KH 40, PH 6.4, Chlorine 0 (this one surprised me).

So, my ultimate goal is to keep a Betta and possibly some snails. I already know that the water hardness will benefit the snails fine, but I'm worried about any Betta that I get. (ten gallon tank, btw). What, if anything, should I do to this water aside from heating it, adding the beneficial bacteria and Seachem Prime? 

 

Thanks!

 

Shirl 

 

[KBOzzie59]

Honestly I'd skip the prime unless ammonia becomes an issue, and with monitoring (test strips) and water changes that can be easily balanced with the bioload you have described.  I did not see mention of live plants?  I was a fake plant person until one day one of the helpful folks at the store (CooP) talked me in to trying live plants.  Now I'll most certainly never go back to fake plants unless it's a salted QT tank.

Are you buying the fish at a LFS?  Ask them what their water parameters are, chances are they will be much like yours if you are on the same water source.  If they don't know their water parameters take the strips with you and have them test for you.  Also if they do not know their parameters or are not willing to test I'd consider looking for a new source for livestock.

[Jungle Fan]

Are you sure your tap water has 0 chlorine/chloramine? Have you checked with your local water district in regards to what they might add to the water when they process it? If your water really has no chlorine/chloramine added then yes, you don't need dechlorinator, i.e. Seachem Prime and just the Seachem Stability, or whatever product you are using for added beneficial bacteria is fine.

However keep in mind that levels added by the water district can differ with weather, season, and temperatures, hotter temperatures require higher dosages, water that was 0 in the winter might have much higher levels in the hotter months of summer, always best to check, and it only takes a phone call.

if you add any beneficial bacteria without dechlorinator and your water actually does contain chlorine you're not only wasting money by adding bacteria because you are killing them with the chlorine at the same time, you are also taking a chance of having your fish and snails damaged.

I've made it a habit of getting my water districts annual water quality report in which they also list any methods, or additives they use to process our drinking water. I also test my tap water sporadically for phosphates and TDS at least every two months because our water district here keeps switching back and forth between six wells two of which have known phosphate problems.

Here's a little article in regards to dechlorination:

https://guppy-fish.com/need-aquarium-dechlorinator/

I hope this helps.

[Schwack]

I'd agree with @Jungle Fanin that I'd continue to dose with Prime during water changes in case your water supplier varies treatment by season.

As far as keeping a betta and some snails, your water should be fine. Betta's are hardy little fish and generally able to adapt to a wide range of conditions. You could add something like crushed coral to your substrate if you want to bump your pH/KH a bit higher. Realistically, as long as your tank is cycled when you add fish you'll be in good shape.

Snails are pretty straight forward. Be aware that nerite snails won't breed in your tank, but may leave small white dots all over the place. Mystery snails can breed in freshwater and will also need food beyond the algae they can scrape from surfaces in the tank. Bladder snails are great because they don't need anything AND they clean the tank top to bottom. Also, they're typically free!

[Jungle Fan]

ORD once again otherwise I would have clicked like on @Schwack's recommendation.

[KBOzzie59]

Ahh yes I forgot prime also removes chlorine and chloramine.  @Shirl are you on a water utility or well?  If you are on a well that reading is most likely correct.  But a utility with proper levels of residual chlorine/chloramine will show in test.  If you are not seeing any chlorine/chloramine you may want to contact your provider and ask them about it.

[Shirl]

So, like a fool, I'd tested water that had been sitting in a glass for a while. D'oh.

I retested, and yes there is some Chlorine, though not that much. I had gone to my water utility website and read up and saw that they also advise that it varies depending on the time of year and other factors, so dechlorinating as a habit seems like the smart thing to do. 

@KBOzzie59definitely planning on live plants 🙂

 

[Patrick_G]

An added note on chlorine tests. I use tetra strips and cannot measure any chlorine in my tap water. A call to my water co reveled that in my area water at the tap usually measures at  .3-.4 ppm. I guess it to low for the strips to measure but it’s still not good for the fish and I’ll keep using conditioner.