Tap Water

[smeza23]

Does it make a huge difference if you use tap water instead of distilled or something bought from a pet store? Or does it just take longer to get your levels where you need them to be? I want to get my tank set up but I don't want to buy water if I don't really have to. Any input would be appreciated.

[alf1096]

Most all will tell you rodi water. Everything else has things that will feed algae.

[cloak]

It just depends on your tap water. I've been using it now for almost 14 years without any problems. Go figure...

RO/DI is great and all, don't get me wrong, but it's not necessarily the cure for things such as nuisance algae. There's plenty of threads here on RC and other sites where the individual is using RO/DI, yet there still having some of the same problems that tend to accompany bad tap water. GL.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/1/chemistry

[turboreef318]

What type of tank are you setting up? For a fish only, tap water with a dechlorinator is acceptable, but rodi is always preferred. For a reef tank, rodi is a necessity IMO. If you do use tap water in a tank, be prepared for an inevitable algae bloom. Rodi units are fairly inexpensive as far as equipment goes and is definitely a valuable investments if you want to grow in the hobby.

[cloak]

Got tap?

Good luck, one way or the other.

[oscarinw]

Holy growth cloak! i'm sure your city uses RO/DI
If you don't mind me asking, what type of Acro is that on the right? and, how long have those guys been growing there?
Nice tank man!

-Oscar

[gbru316]

Is RO/DI a requirement? No.

Will it (alone) solve nutrient issues? No.

Will it make nutrient issues easier to diagnose and fix? Absolutely.



It's better to pony up the $100 or so for an RO than to have to deal with rock leaching phosphate for months (years?) on end.

[MARINECRITTERS]

Use RODI, less algae, less bacteria, less phosphates and heavy metals.
It is worth the investment. Some city water is filthy ( fish tank wise ).

[cloak]

Here's the other side...

When tap water is bad, I understand that, but when RO?DI is sloppy, not so much... GL.

Montiporas would have been gravy in this tank btw...

[Josh40996]

I used tap water for a few months when I first started up, algae grew like mad even though my Tds was <55. What it depends on is what your tap water is composed of, even though my water has 0.03 nitrates, phosphate is 3ppm. Your water could be fine, or it could be liquid copper and kill every invert you introduce.

IMO it's just another bullet in the barrel.

[cloak]

Copper threads are few & far between IMO. Phosphates are usually the culprit...

[Dino]

I'm just going to echo what has already been mentioned, tap water is highly variable. Some locations have extremely good water, some places have water so full of "stuff" you can practically chew it .

My take has always been that this hobby has enough frustrations, especially for newbies, having good pure source water (RO/DI or distilled) only helps in preventing some of the aggravating things in the hobby from popping up.

[mbingha]

This hobby is difficult enough, why make it any harder on yourself by using water with unknown amounts of phosphates, silicates, heavy metals, Copper, fluoride, etc. Ro/di is as pure as you can get, and relatively inexpensive.

[Reeferz412]

You can use tapwater. It depends where you live and how much TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) is in your water. Some areas have extremly low TDS while here in Miami TDS is 200-300 when you are striving for 0 in a saltwater aquarium. So yes, if your local tap water' TDS is high, you need an RODI unit. Unless you like algae, whatever floats your boat.

[thegrun]

You can use tap water if you choose, just like you can play Russian Roulette; it just depends upon how risk adverse you are. Unless you have very accurate in depth testing done on your tap water (which would cost more than a new RO/DI system) you have no idea what you are adding to your tank if you use tap water. So the question is only one that only you can answer, "Do you feel lucky punk?"
I would not advise the use of tap water.

[FTDelta]

Depends on what's in your local water system. It's better to use RO/DI but I've heard some success with using tap. Again, it all depends on what harmful metals is in your local water system. Most can find out going to the source of your local water treatmant plant.

[Bpb]

Not all tap is created equal. Tap water in other parts of the state comes out at 8 dKH, low phosphates, 400ppm calcium and 1200 ppm magnesium. Unless it has high amounts of copper or arsenic, I'd probably use that tap. Tap water in my city...25 dKH, 150 ppm calcium, 1000ppm magnesium, high in phosphate. Think I would want to use that for an sps tank? No way. No amount of "waiting" will cause those parameters to magically shift to natural seawater levels

[gone fishin]

Originally Posted by Dino

I'm just going to echo what has already been mentioned, tap water is highly variable. Some locations have extremely good water, some places have water so full of "stuff" you can practically chew it .

My take has always been that this hobby has enough frustrations, especially for newbies, having good pure source water (RO/DI or distilled) only helps in preventing some of the aggravating things in the hobby from popping up.

These are my thoughts. I have well water and live in farm country. The fertilizers used elevate my phosphate and nitrates to a high level tank wise not to mention it is naturally hard.

[Bpb]

Tap water is too mis leading. It encourages alot of noobs and non chemistry inclined people to lump tap water as a singular "parameter" i guess you could call it. We should hence forth refer to tap water as "Mystery Water".

You wanna use mystery water in your tank? Luck of the draw, could be perfect could be poison. Who knows! But no two sources will be the same

[Hobchoice1]

+1 on no to tap water. Not only varies from tap to tap, but also varies at different times of the year. Our city water usually has a tds of about 200, but during the fall and the first of the year (coincides with large influx of student population in a college town) we have measured it at almost 600!!

With regards to well water, have had issues when farmers fertilize - nitrates and phosphates - and after rainy season as these are washed into the aquifer and carried to your well.

Most grocery stores have a DIY water machine out front. Would suggest that you track it for a while to see when the filters are serviced and try to get water shortly after that time. If you are buying from your LFS don't be afraid to ask them what their TDS is. If they cannot tell you - walk away.

[chirojosh]

Once I read our annual water report, average TDS of 160, I immediatly bought a RODI.

[Savant]

Nothing in this hobby is really cheap, but in the overall scheme of a saltwater fish or reef tank, a rodi unit, the device that purifies the environment that everything you want to live and grow in your tank, is cheap. Relatively inexpensive to buy and inexpensive to operate. JMTCW

[Calappidae]

RO/Distilled will not contain and harmful heavy metals, bacteria, or anything else that was thrown in your water source. Water quality is getting worse nowadays and its begining to be a must have even for drinking in some areas.

[u00bdl1]

Tried to use my tap water several, found that the Alk was off the charts.

[Calappidae]

"If its questionable.. don't use it" <- quoted by a very wise man named me..