can I add some tap water (untreated)?

bmackcw · 02/18/2015, 08:27 PM

After a week away, I came home to a happy tank, but the density (salt) is really high. 1.026 I think. My car is in the shop, so I can't drive to get the RO I always use.

Tank is 4-5 months, very established for that amount of time. All tests are great.

Question is how much harm could I do by adding about 5 gallons of straight tap water to my tank to get the salt down?

Thanks in advance...

lllesley · 02/18/2015, 08:37 PM

I wouldn't add straight tap water, 1.026 is were I keep my salinity all the time anyway. Its not that high. Just top off as usual with RODI 1.026 wont hurt anything. If you are going to add tap water I would treat it with a water conditioner first, to just remove as many toxins as you can, chlorine etc.

bmackcw · 02/18/2015, 08:43 PM

That's good to hear it's high but not too high. I have little experience, but am a perfectionist when it comes to the water conditions. I just don't see getting any fresh RO for 2-3 days. I'll top off with the salt water I have for now...

jrr98002 · 02/18/2015, 09:28 PM

I see you say in your last post you're going to top off with SALTwater at 1.026. That's going to raise your salinity up past a safe level (1.026 is pretty close to the upper limit). Depending on how much you are having to top off, this probably won't hurt in the immediate short term, but as soon as you're able to get water, I'd do some partial WCs to get it back lower.

ReefKeep66 · 02/18/2015, 09:34 PM

You'll be better off getting a ride to you lfs and get enough ro to last you a week or 2. Or maybe invest in a ro unit. You'll be thanking yourself down the road not having to deal with the downsides of using conditioned tap wate.

jrr98002 · 02/18/2015, 09:36 PM

+1 to RI/DO unit also honestly

3FordFamily · 02/18/2015, 09:46 PM

I do not recommend it

3yellowtangs · 02/18/2015, 09:49 PM

Let it sit over night for the chlorine to evaporate. Once will not hurt. But adding often can build up heavy metals, phosphates and nitrates.

bmackcw · 02/18/2015, 10:08 PM

I should have my car back by Friday. If not I'll get a ride. Water level is low enough that the HOB filter is causing bubbles, which I guess isn't good either. But my tank has always been 100% LFS water. Don't want to mess with that now.

3yellowtangs · 02/18/2015, 10:09 PM

There are a lot of people who only use tap water on this site. Just search tap water

Sk8r · 02/18/2015, 11:04 PM

1.026 is perfectly fine: upper end of the range, but ok. Always make salinity changes slowly. Buy some Prime or other water conditioner: you can get it at Petco or Petsmart I think if your LFS doesn't have it: keep that on hand if you ever get into such a pickle again. While using ro/di saves you problems with algae and mineral buildup out of seawater parameters, a little in an emergency or a whole hospital tank of it that never goes into your dt at all is not a bad thing.

julie180 · 02/19/2015, 07:37 AM

Got a piece of clean dry rock? Put it in your tank to raise the water level until you can get some ro.

02/18/2015, 08:27 PM	#1
bmackcw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 201	can I add some tap water (untreated)? After a week away, I came home to a happy tank, but the density (salt) is really high. 1.026 I think. My car is in the shop, so I can't drive to get the RO I always use. Tank is 4-5 months, very established for that amount of time. All tests are great. Question is how much harm could I do by adding about 5 gallons of straight tap water to my tank to get the salt down? Thanks in advance...

02/18/2015, 11:04 PM	#11
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	1.026 is perfectly fine: upper end of the range, but ok. Always make salinity changes slowly. Buy some Prime or other water conditioner: you can get it at Petco or Petsmart I think if your LFS doesn't have it: keep that on hand if you ever get into such a pickle again. While using ro/di saves you problems with algae and mineral buildup out of seawater parameters, a little in an emergency or a whole hospital tank of it that never goes into your dt at all is not a bad thing. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/18/2015, 08:37 PM	#2
lllesley Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 336	I wouldn't add straight tap water, 1.026 is were I keep my salinity all the time anyway. Its not that high. Just top off as usual with RODI 1.026 wont hurt anything. If you are going to add tap water I would treat it with a water conditioner first, to just remove as many toxins as you can, chlorine etc.

02/18/2015, 08:43 PM	#3
bmackcw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 201	That's good to hear it's high but not too high. I have little experience, but am a perfectionist when it comes to the water conditions. I just don't see getting any fresh RO for 2-3 days. I'll top off with the salt water I have for now...

02/18/2015, 09:28 PM	#4
jrr98002 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Little Rock Posts: 235	I see you say in your last post you're going to top off with SALTwater at 1.026. That's going to raise your salinity up past a safe level (1.026 is pretty close to the upper limit). Depending on how much you are having to top off, this probably won't hurt in the immediate short term, but as soon as you're able to get water, I'd do some partial WCs to get it back lower.

02/18/2015, 09:34 PM	#5
ReefKeep66 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: The great state of Georgia Posts: 549	You'll be better off getting a ride to you lfs and get enough ro to last you a week or 2. Or maybe invest in a ro unit. You'll be thanking yourself down the road not having to deal with the downsides of using conditioned tap wate.

02/18/2015, 09:36 PM	#6
jrr98002 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Little Rock Posts: 235	+1 to RI/DO unit also honestly

02/18/2015, 09:46 PM	#7
3FordFamily Registered Member. Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Fishers, Indiana (Indianapolis suburb) Posts: 488	I do not recommend it

02/18/2015, 09:49 PM	#8
3yellowtangs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 73	Let it sit over night for the chlorine to evaporate. Once will not hurt. But adding often can build up heavy metals, phosphates and nitrates.

02/18/2015, 10:08 PM	#9
bmackcw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 201	I should have my car back by Friday. If not I'll get a ride. Water level is low enough that the HOB filter is causing bubbles, which I guess isn't good either. But my tank has always been 100% LFS water. Don't want to mess with that now.

02/18/2015, 10:09 PM	#10
3yellowtangs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 73	There are a lot of people who only use tap water on this site. Just search tap water

02/19/2015, 07:37 AM	#12
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Got a piece of clean dry rock? Put it in your tank to raise the water level until you can get some ro.