Those who love having pets, including fish, want to do everything at loving their chosen animal family members. That includes the betta fish we hold near to our hearts. Betta fish have very specific needs (related to food, water, temperature, etc) that are unlike those of cats and dogs. Their needs can also vary between the different species of fish.
Someone who is getting their first fish tank may have questions they need answered about all aspects of caring for their fish. But, even seasoned fish owners will find they need help with the right way to care and the proper water parameters for a type of fish they’ve never had before.
One common type of fish in many households the world over is the betta fish, otherwise known as the Siamese fighting fish. This betta fish is beautiful with vibrant colors and larger than average fins fanning out from their bodies. Betta fish is a freshwater fish perfect for beginner aquarists. While the freshwater betta fish may be a common choice for families, their needs are quite specific, and that includes the type of water that is most recommended for a betta fish. Betta owners must know that betta fish live in betta fish tank with proper water requirements. Let us get to know the important water parameters, best bottled water and other water types for betta fish survival, and the needed betta fish water conditions.
Water Parameters When Preparing
The perfect water for betta fish is tap water that has been dechlorinated with the right water conditioner. The well water, reverse osmosis water, spring water, and bottled water can also be used as water for betta fish.
Typically, the right kind of water for betta fish is something that is the type of water that still has purities within it. Bottled spring water for betta fish is probably the most recommended, simply because spring bottled water for betta fish contains the minerals needed in the type of water that they can enjoy. Spring bottled water is a more expensive alternative to tap water, but spring bottled water is better than distilled water. Spring water is one of the best bottled water for betta fish because, unlike the distilled water, the spring bottled water hasn’t been processed to remove minerals and nutrients. Further, bottled spring water is safe for the betta fish tank since it is dechlorinate water. Just be sure that the pH level of the spring water to be added in the betta fish tank is in line with the betta fish safe safe levels.
Distilled water is not recommended water for the betta fish tank. Distilled water has many uses but being water for betta fish in betta fish tank is not one of its uses. Distilled water or purified water lacks the tap water benefits because it has been processed. The processed distilled water lacks the chemicals, minerals, and nutrients needed for the betta fish’s health. That water for betta fish isn’t recommended, especially if you’re trying to just give the betta tank fish the properties that are needed. It isn’t the best aquarium water either for most tropical fish, along with betta fish as well. According to experts, distilled water must not be added to the betta fish tank unless essential minerals and nutrients are added and the pH level of water is controlled. Betta fish living in the absence of the minerals in the water can result to a not healthy fish. Hence, distilled water is not the best bottled water for betta fish tank. Use tap water or bottled water for betta instead.
Betta fish do well with preconditioned water. This is a type of water that has the chlorine taken out of it, and when it comes to betta fish care, this is the best. This takes the chlorine out of there, so that the betta fish isn’t harmed. You can simply add this to your betta fish tank during a water change, since you do need to change the betta water every now and then. Betta fish tanks need to be cleaned every so often, and to make your betta fish care easy, you can of course add this as the most ideal water for betta fish.
A good water for betta’s tank is typically beta-specific water you can find at fish stores. This beta-specific water is specially prepared betta water. The water for betta fish is made with the betta fish tank specifically in mind. That way, if you buy this water for betta fish you can simply put it in the betta fish tank, and this betta water is much healthier for them. Giving them this new water makes fish care much easier, and is really a good water for betta fish you can get. However, it is also worth noting that it lacks beneficial bacteria.
Betta Fish Care – Water Requirement
Understanding The Best Water For Betta Fish Is Part Of Fish Care
When choosing the best water for your freshwater betta fish, you also need to understand that betta care is also a part of choosing water for betta fish.
You need to do a water change every couple of weeks, and that involves a water change of the betta water so you can have clean betta water in the tank betta fish are in. of course, when putting the water change in there for them, you want water safe for tank betta fish. During the water change, you want to keep the betta fish in betta water from the tank, so you can put new water in.
Once the betta water is in the tank betta fish will be in, you can then put the betta fish in the new water. This new water does need to be replaced during the water change, but it’s relatively safe.
Betta Fish Care – Water Requirement
Below Are The Most Common Types Of Water To Understand for Your Betta Fish:
Tap Water
- Tap water can be used as water for betta fish as long as the tap water is conditioned properly. Treat tap water first before putting it in the aquarium or betta tanks. If your betta fish is introduced to untreated tap water, your betta fish will die. Tap water is chemically treated to eliminate harmful microorganisms so that it is safe to drink and for other beneficial uses. Tap water can contain heavy metals and other harmful chemicals that can be detrimental to your betta fish. To know what heavy metals are present in the tap water, you can test using an aquarium water testing kit. Before adding tap water to your betta tanks, add tap water conditioner to your bucket of tap water. The tap water conditioners neutralize the chlorine in the water.
Distilled Water
- Distilled water for betta fish is a bad choice. This water type lacks the minerals essential for betta fish proper growth. It is best to avoid distilled water for betta fish in your betta fish tanks. It is not the best bottled water for betta fish.
Pure Water
- Pure water lacks the minerals and nutrients important for the survival of the betta fish. Hence, you should always avoid purified water for betta fish tanks.
Reverse Osmosis Water
- The use of bottled water is safe for betta fish since it has little to no impurities like heavy metals and other harmful substances. But over time, the use of bottled water for your betta fish tank water can become expensive. Some owners opt to use reverse osmosis water. Reverse osmosis (RO) water is tap water that goes through a process of dechlorination and conditioning through a semi-permeable membrane. This results in an almost completely pure betta fish tank water. However, reverse osmosis water has no beneficial minerals and nutrients needed for the osmoregulation of the betta fish and the stability of the pH levels. There is a need for the remineralization of the reverse osmosis water by adding calcium sulfate and magnesium sulfate (ratio of 4:1). An aquarium mineralizer is also available in fish stores.
Soft Water
- Soft water is water that is free from dissolved salts. The betta fish thrive best in softer water, though they can also tolerate medium and semi-hard water. If the tap water is so hard, some pet owners mix a small amount of reverse osmosis water. This helps in the softening of the water and the stability of the water pH levels. However, using soft water as betta fish’s water increases the risk of bacterial infections in your betta fish.
Dechlorinate Water
- Always dechlorinate your betta fish water for your betta tank. Your betta fish will likely die if your tap water is not dechlorinated since chlorine is one of the harmful chemicals for betta fish. Too much chlorine can kill your betta fish. Further, the presence of chlorine in the betta tank can kill beneficial bacteria that will have developed in your betta’s tank. These beneficial bacteria will decrease the ammonia levels along with nitrite levels. Both ammonia and nitrite are toxic to betta fish. To dechlorinate, use a water conditioner or leave your tap water for a minimum of 24 hours. It is important to note that chloramine, unlike chlorine, does not evaporate. Thus, there is a need for the use of water conditioners. Normally, 1/2 to 1 tsp. of water conditioner is added to 10 gallons of untreated tap water. Usually, the water conditioner will treat chlorine within 2 minutes and chloramine within 5 minutes. Always follow the instructions in your water conditioners.
Rain Water
- Rainwater is mildly acidic and has no buffering capacity. Hence, the pH level drops. Theoretically, your betta fish can thrive in pure rain water. Betta fish owners alternatively mix 5% to 10% conditioned tap water with pure rainwater. It is vital to check the water hardness and carbonate hardness of your water for betta fish to make sure that they are in a level safe for your pet. Typically, the rainwater does not have airborne pollutants, but this is still dependent on the areas where you live.
Well Water
- The well water normally does not contain chlorine and chloramine, however, it does have heavy metals like iron and copper. Well water also has other harmful chemicals like fertilizer and pesticides that are detrimental to your betta fish. If you’re planning to use the well water for your betta fish water, bring the well water sample to your local fish store and have the water quality checked. You can choose the proper aquarium conditioners once the well water is checked for other chemicals present.
You also may want to get LED lighting when looking at betta care. This helps with the water temperature. They’re tropical fish, so the water temperature does need to be higher. LED lighting heats it up quickly, and you should make sure the LED lighting is set up before putting the fish back in there. Water temperature is one of the water parameters to watch out for. The best water temperature for betta fish is between 76° and 80° F.
You should also get an aquarium filter for tanks best suited for betta fish. You should get tanks best made for them, and an aquarium filter helps with filtering out the gunk. You should have the aquarium filter in place before putting it in so the aquarium filter can clean out the tank and make it better.
If you need help, this guide best tells you all of the other parts of betta fish care, and the water used with it too!
Spring Water For Your Betta Fish
It’s ok to fill your tank with tap water if you just make sure the chlorine is gone in the tap water before putting the betta fish in it. Spring bottled water may be a better choice for betta water because its natural properties. The nutrients in the spring bottled water will provide the most natural-feeling environment to the habitat you’d find betta fish in out in the open water. It may be more expensive to fill a large tank with spring bottled water, but if it’s within your budgetary constraints, it can give your betta fish the healthiest home to live in so you can enjoy your betta fish as long as possible.
Best Bottled Water for Betta Fish
Frequently Asked Questions
Water Bottle – Will water from the faucet or tap water kill my betta fish?
Yes and no is the answer to this question. You can fill your betta fish tank up with tap water, however, if you plunk your betta fish, or any fish, into the tank with tap water right away, it will likely die. There is chlorine in tap water, which kills fish of all types. You can let the water sit after filling up your fish tank, though, and the chlorine will eventually evaporate. Then the fish water is safe for your pets.
Betta Fish and Aqua Care
Tap Water – How Long Does It Take to Lose Chlorine?
The amount of chlorine in tap water varies across different locations. On average, it will take 4-5 days for the chlorine to disappear. If you want to speed the process up some, you can stir or circulate the water, expose it to UV light, or aerate it to nudge the evaporation process along. There are also products like water conditioners that will instantly remove the chemicals from tap water making it safe immediately to be used as betta water.
Water conditioners are good for betta tank water because a water conditioner makes the water for betta fish much better. With a water conditioner, it helps the water change properties, so it’s the type of water for betta fish tanks that you can enjoy. It’s the kind of water that helps betta fish live in safe locations.
Before you add your fish to the tank, you should test for the presence of chlorine in the betta water.
You can do this with betta fish kits made specifically for this.
Is Purified Water Good For Betta Fish Tanks?
Purified bottled water is not good for betta fish. Purified water lacks the important minerals and nutrients your betta fish needs to survive. Hence, a purified water is not ideal to be used as betta water.
Water Requirement – Is Purified Water The Same As Distilled Water?
These aren’t exactly the same. Purified bottled water has been cleared of any contaminants and the chemicals that were in it. Distilled water is purified water taken to another level. Not only are all of the contaminants removed, but the minerals and nutrients get removed, as well. For that reason, distilled bottled water is not recommended for many betta fish because it’s lacking in substances that help keep fish healthy.
Betta Fish Care
Betta Fish and Betta Fish Tank – Can I Use Water Sold in Groceries?
You can use bottled water as betta fish water for your aquarium. You do need to choose the bottled water for betta cautiously, though. Not all bottled water is the same. There are three general types of bottled water:
Purifiedbottled water – this may or may not be ok in your betta aquarium as it could contain chlorine, or it may have been distilled so it lacks in minerals good for your betta fish
Filteredbottled water – similar to purified water, it depends on what has or hasn’t been stripped from the water as to whether this type of bottled water is suitable as betta fish water
Spring bottled water– sometimes is passed through filters, but sometimes is not; has no chlorine, but does have the minerals and nutrients that are found naturally in spring water
The other factor to measure here is the pH level of the bottled water you intend to use as betta fish water in your aquarium. For a betta fish, you want a pH that’s not higher than 8 and not lower than about 6.5.
Spring Water Good On Betta Fish?
Spring water is quite good for betta fish because of the nutrients and minerals it holds. It doesn’t have chlorine in it and isn’t stripped of its good properties that benefit betta fish. It’s a good choice of betta fish water for replicating a fish’s natural habitat. Spring bottled water will help with keeping your betta fish healthy and happy inside a fish tank. Hence, spring bottled water is a good betta fish water.
Betta Care and Water Requirement – Can You Use Filtered Water?
You can use filtered water for betta fish, but it depends on the level of filtration, meaning how much is being filtered out or not. Betta fish thrive in water that has nutrients and minerals in the open water. The fish water you’re using in the aquarium they’re living in needs to mimic the open water environment as much as possible. Don’t use water that’s been filtered down so much that it has nothing to offer your betta fish, such as distilled water. You need to make sure that chlorine or any other harmful chemicals have been removed, but not the beneficial elements in the water.
How Do You Treat Betta Fish Water?
Once you’ve chosen the right kind of water for your betta fish, such as spring bottled water or tap water that’s been cleared of its chlorine, you can condition the water with products found in pet shops that will help you keep your betta fish alive and healthy. You should condition the water in your aquarium with every water change you do. Usually, a stress coat additive can be added to the betta’s water. The stress coat additive restores your betta fish natural slime coat that is removed when your betta fish is stressed.
How Often Should You Change Betta Water?
Whether you use tap water, betta-specific water, or spring bottled water in your betta fish tank, you’ll need to change it on a regular basis. How often depends on the size of your betta fish tank, whether it’s a filtered or unfiltered tank, how many fish live in it, and how much you feed your fish. (Uneaten fish food can rot and create a toxic environment.)
Here’s a guideline to follow for changing the water in your betta fish tank. If the tank is small and unfiltered, you should change up to 50% of the water once a week. If you have a larger tank that has a filter, then you still need to change some of it every week, but 20-25% is probably ok.
Ultimately, you’re changing the water to keep the level of ammonia within a safe range for the fish. You can get test strips for checking the levels if you’d like that assurance.
Betta Fish Care – Is distilled good?
Distilled bottled water is not recommended as betta fish tank water. Distilled water lacks the chemicals, minerals, and nutrients since it has been processed. Betta fish prefer to live in the habitat with minerals and nutrients needed for the betta fish proper growth. If betta fish thrive in betta fish distilled water, the betta fish will lack energy and could die.
What is the best water to use for betta fish?
Can you use boiled water in a betta fish tank?
Can betta fish live in filtered water?
How often do you condition betta water?
Is room temp water OK for betta fish?
Last Updated on May 14, 2023 by Inma Barquero
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