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Pond water

anuska_dostalovaanuska_dostalova Posts: 3
in Problem solving
hi 
We’re making a mini pond in our garden and I wondered if it’s ok to fill it with water from a Britain’s jug as opposed to tap water? 
Thanks

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Welcome to the Forum.
    What's a " Britain's jug"?
    Devon.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    Do you mean a Brita water filter?  Tap water has too many minerals in it, for it to make suitable pond water, so if you are asking if filtered water is better, then yes it probably is.  However, that will probably take you ages to filter enough water.

    If you can collect rain water, that is the best thing to use for a pond.
  • anuska_dostalovaanuska_dostalova Posts: 3
    Thank you yes I did mean Brita!
  • clarke.bruntclarke.brunt Posts: 215
    Mine gets a lot of tap water (original filling years ago, and quite a bit of topping up in summer), plus of course whatever rainwater ends up in it naturally, and sometimes rainwater from the water-butts if I've got more than my plants need.

    The pond teems with life, from the near-microscopic stuff up to the frogs. Tap water round here (Cambridge area) comes from underground sources, and I think would be described as 'hard'. Funnily enough, the one thing my pond once had but doesn't seem to any more is great pond snails (Lymnaea stagnalis) - if it was calcium for their shells which they needed, then I think our tap-water would supply plenty.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Tap water has never caused any issues with ponds I've topped up. 
    It only takes a matter of days for chemical levels to sort themselves out and for wildlife to move in.
    Devon.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Tap water is fine.  Don't waste money on using filtered water.
  • anuska_dostalovaanuska_dostalova Posts: 3
    edited March 2021
    Thank you all for your advice. I’m starting from scratch so want to avoid putting chemicals in for the start and then can top up with rain and tap water as needed. It’s only a small pond project with my young daughter so it won’t be too much of a job to stick some brita  filtered water in. Would keep her occupied 🤣 . I wondered if this would be better than tap water. 
  • clarke.bruntclarke.brunt Posts: 215
    Well the filtered water won't do any harm - I doubt "better" in any detectable way. The stuff out the tap can't be all that bad - suitable for drinking after all.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Tap is fine.
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