Yes, it is… However, because tap water can contain contaminants such as chlorine/chloramines, which are harmful to aquatic life, you should use a water conditioner.
I installed an under-the-kitchen-sink cold tap water filter to remove some impurities/contaminants from our city’s HARD water for my aquatic turtle’s peace of mind. Pentek’s TSGAC-10 cartridge filter is what I use. M
y canister filter unit’s activated carbon will also do some additional work on any chloramine. When it’s time to service the canister, I replace the active carbon every 4-6 weeks. My turtle can see me from a mile away and swims/explores all over his aquarium.
ALSO SEE: Is My Turtle Dead or Hibernating?
I’m pretty sure I could use our regular city tap water without harming my hardy plants. So. It would be different if you had an exotic turtle.
I would dechlorinate the water if you live in an area that uses a lot of chlorine. My house’s water comes from the township, but it’s from a natural spring, so I don’t bother dechlorinating it. I’ve had no problems with the water at my house for the past 6 years. If your township, city, or whatever uses chlorine, I would strongly recommend dechlorinating the water to be safe.
This is my opinion on tap water: dechlor is required. Why take chances with your aquatic creatures, who rely on you to keep them alive and well?
I expect this to be a lengthy post, but I hope you will read it.
The majority of states now use chloramines, which are chlorine bound with ammonia and therefore do not dissipate as quickly as pure chlorine. Simple chlorine dissipates after a day or two, making the water safe for aquatic life.
Chloramines, on the other hand, do not dissipate after a day or two, necessitating the use of a dechlor agent to neutralize them. So, if you don’t know if your water contains chlorine or chloramines, use dechlor to be safe…it won’t harm aquatic life if you use dechlor and there are no chlorine or chloramines present…so it’s very difficult to overdose.
I’m not an expert on turtles, but I am an expert at keeping excellent fish water…I raise Koi. Many people believe that chlorine or chloramines have no or only a minor impact on turtles, which may be true.
But imagine swimming in chlorinated pool water with your eyes open the entire time…how long can your eyes take it? Granted, most tap water lacks the chlorine levels found in most public pools, but chlorine is still present… Yes, it is safe to drink and bathe in, but it has an effect on tissues. I
t has a greater impact on aquatic animals with gills because it destroys their gills, causing them to gasp at the surface and eventually die. Remember, your turtle is living in it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can always get out of the tub, shower, or pool, but they can’t.
Another reason to dechlorinate is to clean your FILTER. Many of you may be wondering what the filter has to do with chlorine in the water.
Many of you believe that filters only filter out the visible contaminants in the water, and that chlorine has no effect on it. But consider what your canister filters contain…most have filter pads or sponges that trap the solids that pass through…then what is the purpose of all the other stuff in the filter…the ceramics, plastics, lava rock, and other items in there?
Those are the surfaces on which bacteria can grow… Why do we want bacteria to grow in our filters? Bacteria aren’t they bad? Not all of them. For the filter to work, it needs two types of bacteria to grow…one that eats ammonia, which comes from your turtle’s waste, fish waste, decaying vegetation, decaying food, and other sources…low levels of ammonia are extremely harmful to aquatic life.
This bacteria converts ammonia to nitrites, which are toxic to aquatic life in high concentrations.
Another bacteria grows in your filters that eats the Nitrites and converts them to Nitrates, which are safe for aquatic life even in high concentrations. …the Nitrates are consumed by plants and algae, which grow and provide food for aquatic life, and the cycle begins again.
All of the other material in your filter is there to support the growth of beneficial bacteria that convert killer ammonia and nitrates to nitrates.
Chlorine kills bacteria, for better or worse. You will kill the good bacteria if you use chlorinated water to do water changes and clean your filter. In essence, you’re using a high-priced filter to do only mechanical filtration for you and aren’t taking advantage of the biological capabilities at all….if that’s the case, all you need are filter pads and activated charcoal…and frequent water changes.
The turtles will most likely survive if you don’t change the water and clean the filter.
They get sick or are more susceptible to parasites and diseases if they do this frequently.
Why take risks? If you keep the water as safe as possible for your aquatic friends, you will provide a healthier environment for them. Your aquatic companions will be happier as well. There’s no reason not to dechlorinate your water.
My thoughts and justifications for using dechlor.
Turtles Require What Kind Of Water?
Turtles require freshwater in their habitat that is free of chlorine and ammonia. In their tank, use distilled water or dechlorinated tap water.
Let’s take a closer look at both of these options.
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Tap water that has been dechlorinated
It is the most practical water source for your turtle aquarium. To kill bacteria and other pathogens, the water we drink is chlorinated. Even a trace amount of chlorine, on the other hand, can be harmful to your turtle’s health.
As a result, you must first determine whether the tap water you use for the turtle tank contains chlorine. If so, you’ll need to use a water conditioner to dechlorinate it.
If you’re not sure whether your drinking water contains chlorine, you can use a water test kit to find out.
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Water that has been distilled
Another safe option for your turtle tank is distilled water. You won’t need to use a water conditioner if you use distilled water. Distilled water is almost always free of harmful particles, microbes, and other contaminants.
Distilled water, on the other hand, is relatively costly. As a result, it is preferable to use tap water that has been dechlorinated with a water conditioner.
Can I give my Turtles Bottled Water?
Turtles Can Drink Tap Water
Bottled water can be used for turtles. However, the cost will be significantly higher than the standard alternative, which is dechlorinated tap water.
If I have a filter, can I use tap water for my turtle?
Yes, filters remove ammonia and nitrates from your turtle’s tank, making it cleaner. It does not, however, dechlorinate the water. As a result, you’ll still need to use water conditioners to keep it chlorine-free. Purchase on Amazon