Water, lots of water...

I have 350l tank and two sources of water:
1. drilled well, water is nice looking, no smell, taste is not very nice pH is 7-8 no other test done.
2. spring/rain water coming from the mountain trough forest, very clear, the stream is very fast so, no plants or anything developed.
Which water is better/safer to use with cichlids?

Another problem is how to actually transport any type of water into the tank? I have two large plastic tanks by 230l each but have no slightest idea how to care them full of water into the flat.​

 

Uhm - where in country are you situated? Does your mountain stream run through Forest,fynbos or is there any agricultural activity above where you will be collecting from? Any human settlement above where you want to collect from?
Take some of your well water to a LFS and have it tested by them - especialy for TDS (total dissolved solids) - also ALWAYS let wellpoint/borehole water stand for a 2 days or so to reoxygenate....

As for getting it to your flat....Uhm - musclepower and buckets?

 

I'm far away, in Sweden. The stream from the mountain passing only natural forest, there are couple of houses standing up on the mountain but they do not connect to the stream. One time we didnt have water and we were taking that water for cooking and stuff. Can you define "LFS"? what would i need to expect from TDS test?

 

O.k - so at least you dont have to worry about "informal townships" like we have in RSA.... TDS(along with GH and KH - general and Carbonate Hardness readings) readings will indicate to you how Hard or soft the water is that you are dealing with - depending on its outcome,you will be able to make an informed choice of what you want to keep in your aquarium - soft,low TDS water will be better suited to Tetras etc and if hard water - look at fish from Lake Malawi...

Sorry - a LFS or LPS is a Local Fish Store or Local Pet Store...

If the area you live i is still pretty rural - i can not see any reason that the water from especialy the stream,will be unsuitable for keeping fish - even if your predominant rock formations in the area is a soft limestone - you will still be able to keep fish from the African Rift Lakes that prefer hard,Alkaline water.... + Your tank is more than big enough for these beauties...

 

Aha, ok, now I start to learn some specific abbreviations. I used to live in RSA for 4 years in Muizenberg (Cape Town) and familiar with some polluted areas. I also remember how reach, affordable and large your LFSs. Unfortunately it's different here. LPS in surroundings (closest ca 25km) are not very helpful, there are just a few girls hired to sell stuff, and they dont do tests, they only sell those. Also fish is VERY expensive here - one guppy costs over 30 kr (would be like 40 rand) the tests here are also expensive. I have to order various tests on ebay and planning to buy malawis from a few private breeders. The fish tank in Europe is very expensive hobby. I just love those little colorful smart pieces floating in the beautiful set. Was doing a lot of snorkeling down in RSA.

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O'K - so you got your heart set on Malawis.... Easy then - You WILL have to buy a few basic test kits that indicate a couple of parameters... pH,Ammonia,Nitrite,nitrate and at least a general hardness one... - If your water is not suitable for Malawis,you can always adjust it to those parameters by adding things like limestone to your aquascape to increase pH and hardness...
Have a read through some of the old threads on here - lotsa info on keeping Malawis...
Seems like even in a 1st world country like Sweden you have the same problem as we do here - ignorant LFS staff just pushing product...lol - see guys,we arent the only country....lol

 

Thank you for encouragement, do you think Nitrite and nitrate are the necessarily tests? I'm asking because every time I order something from the ebay it take about a week or two to deliver, and then I sit and watch an empty tank. I have pH test and in couple of days will kH/gH test will arrive, maybe those are enough?

 

Nope - Ammonia and Nitrite will be essential in the 1st month or so as your tank is cycling and building up its bacterial load.... Go have a read here: http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/s...-Cycle-for-Aquariums&highlight=nitrogen+cycle ...