Tap Water!!! Oh Noes!! HELP!?

Reefer@420 · 04/01/2011, 04:29 PM

hello all!!

New to the hobby. Was hoping someone could help me. before all this reading I started doing I was unaware of the possible dangers of using tapwater for my tank. Since I have already filled the tank put the LR in and begun my cycle...is there anyway to purify or partially purify this water now.

Also any other suggestions or hints are MORE than welcome and appreciated.

Reefer@420

seapug · 04/01/2011, 04:42 PM

Polyfilter, GFO, and Purigen can help remove lingering tapwater nasties, but an RO unit would probably be a good "next purchase" at this point.

bertoni · 04/01/2011, 05:23 PM

To Reef Central

I would relax, and look into a RO/DI unit.

JacknJill · 04/01/2011, 06:39 PM

Try running a polyfilter, GFO, and activated carbon.

JacknJill · 04/01/2011, 06:40 PM

If you cant get a media reactor, put the carbon and GFO in a filter sock in a high flow area

duncantse · 04/01/2011, 06:42 PM

Why not just pour some water conditioner in the tank?

jeff@zina.com · 04/01/2011, 08:43 PM

Once you start mixing with RO/DI water and doing water changes, your tank will gradually be weaned off the tap water. Don't sweat it, you have bigger issues you'll be worried about soon.

Jeff

BurntOutReefer · 04/01/2011, 10:46 PM

what Zina said

tmz · 04/01/2011, 11:00 PM

Why not just pour some water conditioner in the
tank?

I think the concern is about impurites ,like silica, metals, phosphate nitrates, etc.; not just chlorine. I'd relax at this point and might run some gac and maybe a poly filter if the tap water has a high rate of total dissolved solids . Depending on the area some use tap water successfully but it's risky overtime or if it's particularly dirty. RO/DI water is much safer,imo.

saltjohnswharf · 04/01/2011, 11:25 PM

If your filtration is running then you are already purifying it.

Should be fine but yeah look into an RODI.

bertoni · 04/02/2011, 04:45 PM

Some of the water conditioners also cause the skimmer to go wild, which is a big negative.

Impossible · 04/02/2011, 05:19 PM

I ran tap water at first, and the algae was just crazy, i do run carbon but i would say all you need to do it do a Big water change with RODI water, and continue to use it...

JoeRonda · 04/02/2011, 06:23 PM

+1 on looking into buying a RO/DI unit.
It beats buying water from your LFS.

wilky9393 · 04/02/2011, 06:27 PM

untill your water levels are ok, dont turn your lights on for a long period.

biecacka · 04/02/2011, 06:38 PM

i ran a softy lps tank w tap water for a long time. my tds in my drinking water was not to high however i never got the fast growth that others achieved. then i ordered anthias and they eat so much that the excess food and tap water got my nitrates too high so i just sped up my purchase of a rodi unit. it was coming sooner than later but glad it came when it did!
corey

greech · 04/02/2011, 06:59 PM

Polyfilters, etc and others have mentioned + water changes and top offs with RO/DI. Your rock may have soaked in some of the tap contaminants (if present) but I think its plenty early on enough to dilute/replace with good water.

WhoDey64 · 04/02/2011, 09:20 PM

Dont panic, dilution is key, just do a few small water changes with RO and it will be ok.

Karp · 04/02/2011, 09:25 PM

This happened to me when I first started my salt water aquarium. I had a huge out brake of algae and my parameters took forever to get in line. Honestly I would just keep changing water as frequent as possible to make it better.

04/01/2011, 04:29 PM	#1
Reefer@420 Moved On Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1	Tap Water!!! Oh Noes!! HELP!? hello all!! New to the hobby. Was hoping someone could help me. before all this reading I started doing I was unaware of the possible dangers of using tapwater for my tank. Since I have already filled the tank put the LR in and begun my cycle...is there anyway to purify or partially purify this water now. Also any other suggestions or hints are MORE than welcome and appreciated. Reefer@420

04/01/2011, 04:42 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Polyfilter, GFO, and Purigen can help remove lingering tapwater nasties, but an RO unit would probably be a good "next purchase" at this point. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

04/01/2011, 05:23 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* I would relax, and look into a RO/DI unit. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/01/2011, 11:00 PM	#9
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Why not just pour some water conditioner in the tank? I think the concern is about impurites ,like silica, metals, phosphate nitrates, etc.; not just chlorine. I'd relax at this point and might run some gac and maybe a poly filter if the tap water has a high rate of total dissolved solids . Depending on the area some use tap water successfully but it's risky overtime or if it's particularly dirty. RO/DI water is much safer,imo. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

04/01/2011, 11:25 PM	#10
saltjohnswharf Conscientious Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 524 Blog Entries: 1	If your filtration is running then you are already purifying it. Should be fine but yeah look into an RODI. __________________ If you had to live the rest of your life in an aquarium what would your minimum tank size be? Think before you buy Current Tank Info: 27 gallon Dying Reef Biotope

04/01/2011, 06:39 PM	#4
JacknJill Moved On Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: El Segundo Posts: 51	Try running a polyfilter, GFO, and activated carbon.

04/01/2011, 06:40 PM	#5
JacknJill Moved On Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: El Segundo Posts: 51	If you cant get a media reactor, put the carbon and GFO in a filter sock in a high flow area

04/01/2011, 06:42 PM	#6
duncantse Fish Advisor Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,604	Why not just pour some water conditioner in the tank?

04/01/2011, 08:43 PM	#7
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	Once you start mixing with RO/DI water and doing water changes, your tank will gradually be weaned off the tap water. Don't sweat it, you have bigger issues you'll be worried about soon. Jeff

04/01/2011, 10:46 PM	#8
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	what Zina said

04/02/2011, 04:45 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Some of the water conditioners also cause the skimmer to go wild, which is a big negative. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/02/2011, 05:19 PM	#12
Impossible Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver, Wa Posts: 134	I ran tap water at first, and the algae was just crazy, i do run carbon but i would say all you need to do it do a Big water change with RODI water, and continue to use it...

04/02/2011, 06:23 PM	#13
JoeRonda Made in the U.S.A. Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington,PA Posts: 694	+1 on looking into buying a RO/DI unit. It beats buying water from your LFS.

04/02/2011, 06:27 PM	#14
wilky9393 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: nj Posts: 30	untill your water levels are ok, dont turn your lights on for a long period.

04/02/2011, 06:38 PM	#15
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	i ran a softy lps tank w tap water for a long time. my tds in my drinking water was not to high however i never got the fast growth that others achieved. then i ordered anthias and they eat so much that the excess food and tap water got my nitrates too high so i just sped up my purchase of a rodi unit. it was coming sooner than later but glad it came when it did! corey

04/02/2011, 06:59 PM	#16
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	Polyfilters, etc and others have mentioned + water changes and top offs with RO/DI. Your rock may have soaked in some of the tap contaminants (if present) but I think its plenty early on enough to dilute/replace with good water. __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

04/02/2011, 09:20 PM	#17
WhoDey64 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ft Lauderdale Florida Posts: 1,311	Dont panic, dilution is key, just do a few small water changes with RO and it will be ok. __________________ My name is Robert and I am addicted to Nitrates.

04/02/2011, 09:25 PM	#18
Karp Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hialeah, Florida Posts: 173	This happened to me when I first started my salt water aquarium. I had a huge out brake of algae and my parameters took forever to get in line. Honestly I would just keep changing water as frequent as possible to make it better.

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