RO vs Tap

[ziggy2]

I have a 29 Nano Cube. I buy my water from one of two local stores. I steered away from one because they told me they used tap water to make their salt water. I just found out that the store I buy my water from uses tap also.

So here's my main question; what kind of stress and benefit will it be to start using ro saltwater in my coming water changes?

[lapin]

Are you having issues? Test the water you are getting from the LFS and see whats in it. That would be the first step in you making an informed decision.

[Pandagobyguy]

Hi zig! Here's my experience in the differences:

RO/DI:

-No need to wait for chlorine/chloramine to gas off and no need to add chlorine removers (dont bother even if you do use tap imo)

-no silicates which cause diatom blooms (this was a big one for me).

-eliminates small amounts of ammonia in my tap

- no surprise chemicals or metals

In the end, i think you'll find a lot of people (like your lfs) have perfectly fine success with tap. The downside is algae tends to be more prolific.

I don't think its necessary to buy one and if you do make sure you get a 5/6 stage filter if your city tap uses chloramine.

If you planning on doing trace testing/dosing or are planning on using the triton method, I'd imagine having pure water is much more important.

[ziggy2]

I have not had any issues since adding ChemiPure. My real concern is I plan on buying an RO/DI systems. I wonder what this might do to my system. I've always heard, consistency is the most important thing. Or would I be better off just sticking with what has worked. I haven't had to dose anything.

[LeJeune981]

I started off with tap water...
And switched to ro/di about 3 or 5 months in...
Since day one I was fighting gha.. and still fight it till this day..

BUT... the tank and it's inhabitants are much happier with rodi..

The amount of Phos in my tap water was outrageous..

When I first switched to rodi.. I already had cured rock...cuc.. and corals and a couple fish.. so I wasn't able to drain the system like I would have liked to and start with pure water and salt.. so I did multiple 50 plus gallon water changes to get as much tap out as I could... the big water changes didn't effect anything negative.. but it did effect things in a positive way.

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[thegrun]

You will not have any problems switching from tap water to RO/DI water at all. The RO/DI filters will be removing harmful metals and toxins from the water; nothing your livestock needs or wants.

[thegrun]

...as far as benefits go without a very detailed analysis of your tap water it is impossible to tell you for sure what the benefits will be, but nearly all tap water contains at least trace amounts of metals as well as other contaminates, all of which build up in your tank over time since they do not evaporate. Sooner or later they will become problematic.

[Mdj]

No problems switching your inhabitants should be happier

[Denbf58]

ro/di is the way to go I don't know how long your tank has been up and running. as the tank ages using tap can lead to problems the only down side of having ro/di is cost of buying it but then you save on time and money not running to lfs to by water that you can be making your self where you have control of water quality

[Uncle99]

Tap water should not be used in an aquarium.
Well, municipal, all contain various chemicals to make the water safe for human consumption.
Algae, cyno, chlorine, silicates, heavy metals.....just polute the tank.
Be nice to your inhabitants, water us the key to all aquarium success.

[outy]

Originally Posted by Pandagobyguy

In the end, i think you'll find a lot of people (like your lfs) have perfectly fine success with tap.

No

a lot of people do not have success with tap water. Its a mistake to ever use it or trust it.

Any fish store that uses it I would avoid like the plague, they do not know what they are doing.

Not only are the average TDS contaminations bad, but you can get seasonal spikes that are adding who knows what to their tank.


We only recommend RO/DI water and only that, because you want to know exactly what you are putting in your tank. One never guesses.

[RobZilla04]

RODI only.

Never tap!

[ziggy2]

There are only two lfs in my town. One doesn't even offer water, the other is the one that makes it out of tap. They do use Reef Pro to make the water.

[ziggy2]

When I switch to RO/DI will I need to start dosing?

[outy]

Originally Posted by ziggy2

When I switch to RO/DI will I need to start dosing?

Dosing has nothing to do with what you add or do not add regarding ro/di

Dosing two part is a means for keeping up with the tanks depletion of alk and cal

[outy]

Originally Posted by ziggy2

They do use Reef Pro to make the water.

Non sequitur, they are idiots and should not be trusted for anything.


That's the same as live aquaria salt and one could also use reef crystals for that matter.

Without pure water, you could be adding many bad things that will make the hobby that much harder long term.

[LeJeune981]

Originally Posted by outy

Non sequitur, they are idiots and should not be trusted for anything.


That's the same as live aquaria salt and one could also use reef crystals for that matter.

Without pure water, you could be adding many bad things that will make the hobby that much harder long term.

I second that...
My rocks are all leaching phosphate and who knows what else because of me starting with tap water...

In my honest opinion... if your tank has tap water in it... and you are able to pull out any fish/corals... and do a 100 percent water change with rodi water..or if rodi is not available.. distilled would be my second choice (distilled water is still debated ...but still way better than tap)

Tap water is fine for a fresh tank in my experiance..I never had any issues with tap water in any of my freshwater tanks...

But with saltwater...expecially when it comes to the corals... water chemistry is the most important.. followed by lighting..

And as mentioned above... the heavy metals and who knows what other chemicals in tap water... they don't evaporate out.. and as you top off the tank over and over. They build up to toxic levels.

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[Daddi0]

Originally Posted by ziggy2

There are only two lfs in my town. One doesn't even offer water, the other is the one that makes it out of tap. They do use Reef Pro to make the water.

Do they offer r/o for sale?

[Jamesmost]

Ro, way to go...
My friend doing thos 30 plus years still uses tap

[RobZilla04]

Originally Posted by Jamesmost

Ro, way to go...
My friend doing thos 30 plus years still uses tap

Huh?

[ziggy2]

No they don't sell RO at all.

[RobZilla04]

You can get an RODI filter system (100-150gpd) for $100-$150 and make it in your house. The unit pays for itself in the first year.