Best Aquarium Fish for Hard Water

Fishes that can survive in hard water 

Livebearers (excellent for hard water)

These prefer alkaline, mineral-rich water.

• Guppies
  

• Mollies
  

• Platies
  

• Swordtails
  

• Endler’s livebearers
  
  

African Cichlids (very hard water tolerant)

Naturally adapted to mineral-rich lakes.

• Mbuna cichlids (Lake Malawi)
  

• Peacock cichlids (Aulonocara)
  

• Haplochromis species
  

• Lake Tanganyika cichlids (Julidochromis, Neolamprologus, shell dwellers)
  
  

Other Hard-Water-Tolerant Fish

• Goldfish
  

• Rainbowfish (Boesemani, Turquoise, etc.)
  

• White Cloud Mountain Minnows
  

• Zebra Danios
  

• Buenos Aires Tetras
  

• American Flagfish
  
  

Bottom Dwellers (select species)

• Bristlenose Plecos
  

• Rubber Lip Plecos
  

• Hillstream Loaches
  
  

Bonus: Invertebrates

Hard water is excellent for exoskeleton health.

• Nerite snails
  

• Mystery snails
  

• Amano shrimp
  

• Cherry shrimp
  
  

⚠️ Fish to Avoid in Hard Water

Unless you soften or treat the water:

• Discus
  

• Neon tetras
  

• Cardinal tetras
  

• Wild-caught angelfish
  

• Many Amazonian species
  
  Common Questions:                                                                                                  How to Know if We Have Hard Water                                                                          Best Aquarium Fish for Hard Water                                                                                List of States That Have Hard Water