Swordtail fish are considered the easiest fish to maintain in the tank. We have always talked about how easy they are to care for. But it isn’t without any issues. Swordtails will remain happy and healthy in your tank only if you provide them with a suitable environment. One of the essential things to consider when caring for swordtail fish is the type of water you put them in. So, what type of water do swordtail fish need?
Your swordtail fish’s tank water condition and filtration needs will determine whether they are thriving in your tank. The type of water you use in the tank doesn’t concern swordtails until you have the right temperature, pH, and hardness. However, it would help if you considered it clean and free from toxic chemicals like ammonia and nitrites.
You have to make sure that the water you use should be well-oxygenated and free from any contamination that can introduce diseases or parasites in the tank. Swordtail fish are hardy and tolerate small changes in the water parameters. But sudden drastic changes can be detrimental, so you need to keep checking the condition of your water so that you can provide only the best for your beautiful pets.
This blog post will answer all queries on what type of water is suitable for swordtails and how you can maintain proper water chemistry levels in the tank.
What Type OF Water Do Swordtail Fish Need?
Swordtail fish require clean, calm, and well-oxygenated water. They can adapt to various water conditions, but they need at least an approximation of the natural environment.
It would be best if you maintained a pH level of water up to eight.
To keep things easy, you can use tap water as long as your home’s water system does not contain chlorine or chloramines.
Swordtails prefer colder water temperatures, so keep them out of direct sunlight and keep them between 65 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can Swordtail Fish Survive In Tap Water?
It is entirely dependent on the type of tap water available at your residence. You can’t give your swordtail fish tap water since it’s contaminated with chemicals. The chlorine and other toxins in city tap water can quickly kill your swordtails.
On the other hand, Swordtail fish can survive in the type of tap water that is treated to eliminate chlorine, ensuring that the chlorine levels are safe for aquarium fish or if you have your softener system.
Your swordtails can survive in tap water, but you should be aware that maintaining the ideal conditions required by these fish might be difficult.
You should be aware that swordtails are pretty sensitive to water conditions, particularly pH levels and water temperature in your aquarium.
Swordtail fish can also survive in tap water if you treat it with a conditioner like Seachem Prime or something similar.
Similarly, you can aerate the water at home by storing it in a bucket for a few days, allowing the chlorine level to drop and the water to be ready to use in your swordtail fish tank.
Appropriate Water Conditions For Your Swordtail Fish
Appropriate water parameters are one of the most crucial tank requirements for any fish. Therefore, maintaining water conditions for swordtails is not tricky.
The following are the water parameters that swordtail fish prefer:
- The pH of the water should be between 7.0 and 8.4.
- Hardness of water: 10-15 DH
- Temperature of the water: 65-80°F
They thrive in water at standard temperature and have a neutral pH, but they may adapt to more acidic or alkaline conditions.
Swordtail fish require water with a lower pH than that of their natural environment. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand the differences in swordtail fish tank size and water conditions.
You can house swordtails in any freshwater aquarium, although they like a tropical community.
Filtration Needs Of A Swordtail Fish
You can keep swordtail fish in the little tank, but you’ll need a filter.
In general, you should stock each fish with at least two times the aquarium’s water capacity. Your filtering system must also support this ratio.
For the swordtail fish tank, you have the option of using an internal or external filter. Hang-on back filters and in-tank filters are two types of filters that will function nicely in your fish aquarium.
For healthy, happy fish, clean the filter media and change out at least 20% of the water in your tank once a week. You can probably get away with less frequent adjustments for a smaller community tank, but it’s best to be safe.
Further Reading:
Do Swordtail Fish Need A Filter?
Do Baby Swordtails Need A Filter?
Can You Use Rainwater For Swordtails?
Yes, rainfall is safe for swordtails to keep, and it contains modest quantities of salt, which can help keep their gills healthy. It also has no chlorine or other contaminants.
Rainwater, on the other hand, has a lower pH, which might make it mildly acidic. This means you’ll have to keep a closer eye on your tank for indicators of low pH. Additionally, when utilizing rainwater with swordtails, you may need to add a buffer solution to counteract the acidity to ensure that they receive the best possible water conditions.
Rainwater, as previously said, is frequently slightly acidic, which might be troublesome for fish who prefer greater alkaline levels in their surroundings.
When using rainwater for swordtail fish, you’ll need to keep a closer eye on the chemistry of your tank and test the pH levels more frequently.
Keep in mind that tap water has a higher pH than rainwater, so you’ll want to make sure the chemistry of your tank is within acceptable parameters for these fish.
What Type Of Water Should You Not Use For Swordtail Fish?
Never use bottled drinking water to fill a fish tank since it may include excessive levels of sodium or chloride, which can cause poor water quality and a variety of health issues for your fish.
Similarly, distilled drinking water is devoid of minerals necessary for good gill function and osmoregulation, which is the ability of body fluids to maintain a concentration gradient between cells and the surrounding environment.
Similarly, well or You should not use puddle water because it may include chemicals and other contaminants, resulting in poor water quality and various health issues for your fish.
How To Maintain Water Temperature In Your Swordtail Fish Tank?
Swordtails prefer to be at room temperature (76°F) but may adjust to slightly lower or warmer water temperatures.
If you have a heated tank, keep the temperature between 80 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. If the room your fish are in is generally colder than that, though, they will be content with lower temperatures (around 70s). You can keep the water at this temperature by placing it in a warm, draft-free area of your home or by using a heater inside the tank.
Install a Heater
Swordtails are native to Central America’s temperate and tropical regions. This implies they can withstand a wide range of temperatures and pHs, but they won’t thrive in excessively acidic or alkaline water.
Get a heater for your swordtail tank to keep the water at the right temperature, and don’t forget to get a thermometer. A 50-watt bulb will heat ten gallons of water by five degrees Fahrenheit each hour in most tanks (that’s how much it needs in the winter).
Regularly Check The Water Temperature
Check the temperature of your tank every day before going to work. If it’s too cold or too hot, add a heater or an air stone to compensate (or both if necessary.) Also, keep plenty of backup tanks on ready in case something goes wrong during transportation!
In addition, the water should be between 70 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit for them to have a long and happy life!
Remember that swordtail fish are tropical fish that do not thrive in cold environments (less than 50 degrees).
How To Maintain pH Levels In A Swordtail Fish Tank?
To avoid health issues and maintain a healthy environment for the fish, keep the pH levels in your swordtail tank at a constant level.
You should test the pH of your water every week. You can also use home-test strips available at most pharmacies or purchase an aquarium testing kit from any pet store. If the levels are off, don’t replace the water until you’ve figured out what’s wrong.
Because it upsets their habitat, changing the pH level too quickly might shock and injure your fish.
You can use a test kit to analyze the chemistry of your water and guarantee that the levels of ammonia and nitrite are at 0 ppm.
Swordtails need a sound filtration system to acquire clean, healthy water daily.
Alkaline water, rather than acidic, is preferred by swordtails. As a result, I advise you to keep your alkaline levels between neutral and slightly basic.
Testing your water and making sure it falls within the pH range, which for our purposes is between six and eight, is the most excellent approach to ensure you have healthy swordtail fish.
This will keep the nitrates low and prevent the sickness from spreading to your otherwise healthy fish.
How Often Should You Change Your Tank Water?
Water changes are vital to maintaining optimal water quality, but they are also critical for the health of your fish. Swordtails do not need frequent water changes.
If you’re wondering how often you should change the water in your tank, here’s a quick guide. Let’s have a look at it!
Weekly percentages range from 25% to 50%. This will be determined by various criteria, including the size of the fish, the size of the tank, and the quantity of fish in the tank.
Every week, you should change the water in your tank to at least 25% of the total capacity. You can leave it up to 50% if you have a larger tank.
You may test the chemistry of your swordtail fish tank with an aquarium water testing kit, which will also help you understand what needs to be changed.
How To Check The Water Chemistry In A Swordtail Fish Tank?
You will need a freshwater aquarium test kit to determine alkaline levels. These kits are simple to use and will assist you in determining your water’s pH level.
Once you have this information, you must keep both ammonia and alkaline/acidity levels within safe limits. You can endanger your swordtail or perhaps it could die if you don’t do so.
It’s best to keep the pH between 70 and 79. However, you must ensure that it does not fluctuate; there should be no significant fluctuations in this level, particularly within a short period (less than 24 hours).
Using an aquarium liquid dip strip or even a color-changing pH test strip is the best way to check your pH.
FAQs
Can Swordtails Live In Cold Water?
You can keep swordtails in cold water. However, I do not recommend exposing your swordtail to cold water. Swordtails are tropical fish that thrive in warmer water.
Swordtails can withstand temperatures as high as 13 degrees Celsius. However, that is not the ideal temperature for your swordtail. Swordtails can survive in such conditions, but they can’t live to their full potential in cold water.
Can Swordtails Live In Saltwater?
Swordtails are freshwater fish that will perish in a saltwater tank. Swordtails can tolerate a small quantity of salt, but one tablespoon per 2-5 liters is excellent. Unfortunately, freshwater fish, such as the swordtail, cannot get rid of the salt entering their bodies. It is because they are not acclimated to it in freshwater surroundings.
Your fish could be severely ill as a result of this. On the other hand, most hybrid swordtail fish may be able to withstand moderate salinity in the water produced in captivity.
Conclusion
The type of water you keep swordtail fish in determines their longevity. Swordtails can survive in a wide range of water conditions, but they can’t stand high quantities of chlorine or ammonia. The number of fish in your tank, its size, and other factors determine the frequency in which you should change your tank water.
If this sounds like too much work for you, then these tiny fellows might not be for you. But, if not, they can make fantastic pets that are attractive and resilient enough to survive in a range of water environments.
