[Rhaethe]

Hi there

I may be moving to Phoenix. It isn't a certainty, but I like Being Prepared. Towards that end, what kind of water is out there? This aids me in figuring out what kind of tanks I could set up in the new place. Sourced from well or city in North Phoenix, Peoria, Deer Valley areas.

Very hard, very soft, high/low pH, etc?

Any info would be grand. Thanks!

 

[Legot]

I'm sorry that I don't have really good numbers, and I'm not from that area, but in general the water from the aquifers around here is quite hard and moderate to high pH. Further north I'd expect the same hardness with slightly lower pH.

It might be useful for you to know that the vast majority of AZ water (and all Phoenix and Metro-phoenix water) is not treated with Chloramine or ammonia. More often it's ozonized (which is all dispersed by the time it gets to your house) and chlorinated.

 

[tricken]

yep all of az water is hard, like dumb hard, and has more chlorine then your avg swimming pool but each city post this http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/Public+Website/water/2012WaterQualityReport.pdf this is scottsdale but most az water is like this

 

[Rhaethe]

Very useful to know, thanks!

 

[tricken]

most of us get an ro system just easier in the long run. better drinking water and better fish keeping. Also a softner for the house is high on most peoples list

 

[Rhaethe]

Hmmm ... use of R/O water even if keeping fish such as African rift lake fishes?

 

[Centromochlus]

Hmmm ... use of R/O water even if keeping fish such as African rift lake fishes?

Nope, the tap is ideal for cichlids, which is why they're such a popular fish to keep here.

 

[Rhaethe]

Awesome. Here in Atlanta, the water is super super soft. And slightly acidic. Great for some things but not so much with African rifters without futzing with additives and things.

If I do end up moved out there, I will probably end up making the large tank a rift tank, and then do R/O water on a small tank for some shrimpies and plants

 

[tricken]

if you do join aape and join us at mtgs

 

[Rhaethe]

if you do join aape and join us at mtgs

Oh excellent! There is an active club where I am now, and its good knowing there is a club where I might be

And as I have been looking up various hard water fishes, I might even do an all male guppy tank, lol

 

[tricken]

yes we have a few who keep endler and guppy tanks, and again not all of us use ro water, it all depends on what you want to keep. but with tap prime is a must as the clorine lvl is so stupid high

 

[ChrisK41]

I live in Peoria, and never even considered using tap since I am not even willing to drink it. It tastes horrible. I have also noticed that when you fill up something large like a bathtub the water has a very blue tint to it, which would be bad in a tank.

I did however just test my tap water for you, but I didn't have any prime or anything on hand, so the chlorine could have messed up the results?

pH - 7.6
Gh - 15 degrees
Kh - <60 degrees (I didn't want to keep wasting solution)

If you need any other tests let me know, but some pet stores here sell really good water for a reasonable price.

 

[baumer1781]

A member posted this recently on http://www.azaquaticplants.com/

Chandler
API test kit drops: KH 9 GH 13
PPM: KH 161 GH 214+
Degrees: KH ~9° GH ~14°
pH: 8.0

 

[Eowyn]

I live in Mesa. I had a 53G back east for 15 years. This is going to be a new road. I also had a huge perennial garden. Lol to that one here.All kidding aside,I would really appreciate any help. I'd like to get a 70 G.
Should I look at used? Are there any good aquarium shops? Should I consider real plants and what type of fish? I used to have a community tank, but I guess that would be a challenge here. Consider no advice stupid or irrelevant. I feel like a fish out of water here...in more ways than one. Do you know of any local aquarium groups? I want to be well prepared before I do this and spend a lot of money. My husband is not a big supporter of this endeavor.