Water supply issue in the lower mainland

[Rastapus]

Tap water conditions in the lower mainland are extremely soft. This condition can actually kill some aquarium fish if left unadjusted. It is a very uncommon problem as most cities increase the mineral content of the tap water to prevent corrosion of piping etc. In North America, to my knowledge, Seattle and BC are the only places where this is a problem.
The hardness in the lower mainland is practically zero. This is similar to the conditions of rain water. Although wild fish are exposed to a similar condition, they are only exposed during the rainy season, and this condition induces spawning. The majority of aquarium fish are raised in hard water conditions. Many species of fish will breakdown in our water and contract various illnesses. Treatment with medication rarely improves this condition because it is the lack of minerals that are the initial cause of the sickness.
Fish absorb the minerals and balance the fluid in their tissues. A process called osmoregulation. Fish with poor osmoregulation can be subject to dropsy, a condition where the body fills with fluids and is very hard to cure. As mentioned it can also cause a number of other disease.
This problem is easy to fix using products such as Replenish and Alkaline buffer. Correcting this will also stabilize pH and improve the overall health of the aquarium.
Many hobbyists in BC use crushed coral to improve and stabilize the pH. Unfortunately hardness is the bigger issue here and the coral does very little in the way of hardness adjustment. Coral only dissolves in an acidic environment and once the coral increases the pH, no more dissolving. Virtually all our customers who have made these corrections have noticed a marked improvement in the health and color of their fish as well as a drastic improvement in mortality of their new fish.
Thanks for reading.

[Smiladon]

Thanks a lot for this information Grant. I am sure guppy owners would find this very useful

[JUICE]

i made a point of this as well on the old bca , i could even smell chemicals coming out of the bloody tap ?!@! , so to combat this problem , i just do smaller water changes , more often , instead of the regular 35/40 % every week !! seemed to help .

i also add more conditioner to remove the chemicals , but not to much ..

but all hobbyists need to be more aware for sure ,

thanks grant !@!

[MananaP]

This is very good water for CRS...Agree as grant said not so good for other/most fish.

[Smiladon]

This is very good water for CRS...Agree as grant said not so good for other/most fish.

dont tempt me to get CRS

[Rastapus]

In some ways yes, others no. Any crustacean requires calcium for growth, our water does not have any. That is a problem. Maybe you are adding a supplement that makes up for that.
With a lack of Calcium, crustaceans are prone to attack from fish due to the soft carapace. Many shrimp keepers dont have fish with them so this is not as much an issue.

[MananaP]

In some ways yes, others no. Any crustacean requires calcium for growth, our water does not have any. That is a problem. Maybe you are adding a supplement that makes up for that.
With a lack of Calcium, crustaceans are prone to attack from fish due to the soft carapace. Many shrimp keepers dont have fish with them so this is not as much an issue.

True, yes i/we do add supplement in the water which raise our GH to about 4-6.

[Rastapus]

Jackpot.

[eternity302]

=) My fish are doing BETTER THAN EVER, I found this out 2 weeks ago from your Richmond Staff IAN, that's why i use Alkaline buffer every water change =) TYTY to YOUR staff (IAN)

[Rastapus]

Not Ian. He has not been with the company since November. Maybe Rick? Garner? Regardless glad to hear!