RO/DI vs. Tap

[rich_one]

So I know RO/DI water is preferred, but as far as evaporation is concerned, can you top off with tap water & Prime?

-Rich

[cloak]

If your already using tap water, I don't see why not.

[coralsnaked]

Really depends on the quality of the TAP wouldn't you think Cloak. Prime will lock up chlorine and chloromine. But does nothing for silicates that fuel diatomic growth or nothing for any heavy metals like Copper. Without 411 who's to say. At best it is a risk

[rich_one]

Yes... water currently in the tank is tap, Prime & Instant Ocean. So I figured I can top off with Prime and tap water.

-Rich

[rich_one]

I should say that I did the mix for the initial fill. Moving forward, I plan on using Nutri Sea Water for water changes.

-Rich

[ChimolaFish]

I mean, if you're using tap water in your tank, than it doesn't really matter if you're using it for top offs. I would definitely switch to RO/DI water if you can. It really is essential for reefs, and at the very least will keep algae blooms in check. Now for freshwater planted tanks, tap all the way!

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I wouldn't use tap water for reasons related to copper, phosphate and silicate, no matter what the initial set up used.

I discuss tap water here:

Tap Water in Reef Aquaria
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2004/chem.htm

from it:

Recommendations
Based on data such as that shown above, there are many reasons to be concerned about tap water for use in reef aquaria. In some cases, especially the nutrients, one can learn quite a bit about the suitability of your tap water from a water quality report. Unfortunately, some of the potential problems with tap water may come from your own pipes, and so may not be reflected in the report. My recommendation is to be on the safe side and purify the tap water (via reverse osmosis, deionizing resins, or any of a variety of other related methods).

If you decide to use tap water because of the cost of purification, here are some recommendations:

Be sure to deal appropriately with chlorine or chloramine in the water.

Let the water run for 5-10 minutes before collecting it. This will greatly reduce the likelihood of getting a high copper or lead level from water that has been sitting in your pipes for an extended period of time.

You should consider getting a copper test kit to reduce the concern that your tap water has very high levels of copper. Seachem and Hach claim fairly low detection limits for copper. They likely won't distinguish the lowest levels, or guarantee that it is low enough to be ideal, but they should highlight the exceedingly high levels that some homeowners have.

If you have an algae problem, test the tap water for nitrate, phosphate, and silicate (the latter in the case of diatoms).

[Kyle918]

This really depends on your particular tap water. Some cities have better tap water than others. Some have worse than normal. I personally wouldn't use tap regardless but if you want to, you should at least test the TDS and test the water for the things randy said above. For fish only you can probably get away with it. If you want coral, I wouldn't waste your time and money using tap water with a reef tank.

[hilgert]

Yeah, I'd try to get to RODI. I don't think you will have real success with with tap (even when treated), unless your tap flows through the Pope's bathroom in the Vatican.

Do you have access to a TDS meter (or an LFS that does) to see what your TDS out of the tap is? Also, you can check out your water supply online...they will have reports they have to file that show what kind of stuff they found, AND what kind of stuff they add.

You can get an inexpensive RODI system (probably for less cost than the critters you might lose over time) like this:

BRS 4 Stage Value PLUS RO/DI System - 75GPD

[joshky]

Originally Posted by rich_one

I should say that I did the mix for the initial fill. Moving forward, I plan on using Nutri Sea Water for water changes.

-Rich

Why? That's such a waste.

[rich_one]

Originally Posted by joshky

Why? That's such a waste.

People who I have talked to that use it, tell me they love it. It is basically pour and use, so long as you have it at the correct temp. I thought it seemed like a pretty cool product... no?

-Rich

[rich_one]

This is great info... thanks, all!

-Rich

[cloak]

I agree that RO/DI is probably your best bet, but I think some of you might be surprised at how many people actually do use tap water and have had great success doing so. Not only on this site, but others as well.
FWIW, I've been using tap water for almost 16 years now without any problems. Go figure...

[disc1]

Originally Posted by cloak

I agree that RO/DI is probably your best bet, but I think some of you might be surprised at how many people actually do use tap water and have had great success doing so. Not only on this site, but others as well.
FWIW, I've been using tap water for almost 16 years now without any problems. Go figure...

You say that like it should shock someone.

I keep hearing you put up this fight, but you have to understand that this means YOUR tapwater is OK. It doesn't say jack about what will happen for anyone else. If I recommend people use tapwater, most of them will end up with problems. If I recommend RODI, a few people who could have got away with tap will spend an extra hundred bucks and everyone that does it gets the guarantee of pure water.

You have to understand the difference between, "I've been lucky so far and I'm betting it will continue" and "I have a guarantee"

[disc1]

The analogy is the guy who says, "My grandad smoked a pack a day and he lived to be a hundred so all that smoking causes cancer noise is just hooey. Everybody should just keep on smoking."

This takes one individual case and tries to apply it to an entire population. It says this one case negates all of the other evidence and all of the people whose deaths are directly related to smoking. But yeah, this one guy made it or these few guys so all that stuff is just a myth.

[ReeferKimberly]

I never saw him say all tap was ok, just that he used it, as do others. Like me.

It should be common sense that all tap is different and not created equal. I don't like absolutes. No one can say RODI is essential, because it isn't. Not for everyone.

[Xavibear]

My first 3 years in the hobby were spent using tap water di filter. The tis of the tap water here is usually 30 or lower. It took 2 years but it got to the point where algae got horrendous. I've been using rodi since the beginning of the year & finally with carbon dosing & aggressive water changes I've finally gotten my parameters back in check & cleared up most of the algae.

Just my experience.

[EllisJuan]

Pony up the funds for an RODI...it will pay for itself pretty fast.

[disc1]

Originally Posted by ReeferKimberly

I never saw him say all tap was ok, just that he used it, as do others. Like me.

It should be common sense that all tap is different and not created equal. I don't like absolutes. No one can say RODI is essential, because it isn't. Not for everyone.

Nobody said anything about absolutes. There are obviously people who do just fine with it. The question is what do you tell the new guy whose water you know nothing about? Do you advise him to start out cheap and possibly have the experience Xavibear describes? Or do you think that more often than not the small initial investment is worth it.

Nobody has said the OP absolutely positively must have RODI or else. We're just saying it's a really really good idea in the vast majority of cases.

[rich_one]

Personally, I appreciate everyone's advice on here, and I do not take anything as "gospel". I'm new to salt, but I've been in the hobby long enough to know that there are sometimes things that work for people that can almost defy logic. That said, different strokes for different folks.

I've been given food for thought, and will adjust accordingly based on much that was said here. Thanks to all of you, because to me the input is invaluable.

-Rich

[ReeferKimberly]

Originally Posted by disc1

Nobody said anything about absolutes. There are obviously people who do just fine with it. The question is what do you tell the new guy whose water you know nothing about? Do you advise him to start out cheap and possibly have the experience Xavibear describes? Or do you think that more often than not the small initial investment is worth it.

Nobody has said the OP absolutely positively must have RODI or else. We're just saying it's a really really good idea in the vast majority of cases.

Not you but it has been said in this thread "it really is essential for reefs". That is what I meant.

Personally I have always made sure to say my experience is only my own (if someone else hasn't said similar). I never have told anyone to use it, just shown it can be used. Since I know TDS says nothing about what is in it I usually make sure to say something of the sort if it has not been already covered.

[ca1ore]

Trouble with using tap water, particularly for ATO, is that unless you are fortunate to have really pristine water quality in your area, any dissolved materials will concentrate over time. Water that evaporates from your tank leaves behind all dissolved impurities, If, for example you have trace quantities of heavy metals in your tap water these would ultimately affect things adversely.

[mluntz]

Another option to RODI is distilled water from the grocery store. Mine runs 0 TDS and is about 88 cents a gallon. How big is your tank? It might be something to consider.

[rich_one]

Originally Posted by mluntz

Another option to RODI is distilled water from the grocery store. Mine runs 0 TDS and is about 88 cents a gallon. How big is your tank? It might be something to consider.

125 gallons. Hmm... that is food for thought. Thanks.

-Rich

[Mr tap water]

Here's some pictures taken with TDS of 320 and using Tap water with conditioner I personally think TDS is very misunderstood it's not so much about how high the reading ls but what is actually in it that may harm your live stock and as you see it can definitely be done with tap water but I do have to agree RO water is the safest root which I have now started to use I have not seen no difference with my corals but have seen better water clarity and I'm using 80% less phos remover which was working out very expensive
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