top off water?

mfp4073 · 06/15/2006, 09:08 PM

I need to do my daily top off, but realized I dont know what to use. Normally I would just use a water conditioner like start right or genisis, but I dont know if that is bad for the liverock or whatever. I can also just let water sit overnight, but figured Id ask.

bjonesjr1 · 06/15/2006, 09:10 PM

The best thing for top-off water is RO/DI... If you have a water machine at your local supermarket then that water will do...

oh yea

To Reef Central

bjonesjr1 · 06/15/2006, 09:11 PM

tap water is just bad to begin with and chemicals to fix the water is not to good IMO....

fsa · 06/15/2006, 09:12 PM

Most people suggest you use r/o (reverse osmosis) water for all your water needs. If you don't have one, the main thing is to rid your tap water of the chlorine, so use some type of dechlorinator. I am not familiar with start right or genesis, but whatever you use, get out the chlorine.

Frank

atvdave · 06/15/2006, 09:18 PM

Also ask your local fish store if they sale R/O water, but most grocery stores sale R/O water also. Just cost more.

Bambalamb · 06/15/2006, 09:21 PM

With a 5 gallon nano such as yours, the water should be as good as possible. With such a small volume of water, the margin for error is not high. I would use RO water at the least, with RO/DI (reverse osmosis, de-ionized) water be optimal.

Sk8r · 06/15/2006, 09:22 PM

And don't just let water sit to remove chlorine. It no longer works: cities have started using chloramine, which won't break up in bubbles.

You can get a ro/di unit for well under 200.00. The amount you will spend buying fresh water will top that...especially when it comes to water changes.

My reason for being against the water conditioners is that, after it's chlorine free, it's still tap water, with all that might be in it, metals, copper from your house pipes... (lethal to marine organisms) etc. And that can cost you a whole lot. A ro/di unit will save you a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and water carrying. And a portable one can hook up to a washing machine spigot with a Y connector, or to your kitchen sink. That guarantees that water will not negatively affect your tank or your specimens.

bjonesjr1 · 06/15/2006, 09:23 PM

I buy 5 gallons of RO/DI water at the local supermarket machine for $1 they just lowered it from $1.50 so I always use their machine, and its always serviced on time, and when needed by Glacier water company...

mfp4073 · 06/15/2006, 09:47 PM

I REALLY dont trust those supermarket machines.....I have known several people I have known that work at them have told me they often dont get serviced. Here in florida those machines can breed some pretty nasty stuff. $200 for a machine is WAY out of the question.

bjonesjr1 · 06/16/2006, 11:19 AM

I have caught the guy who services the machine before and got to talk to him about how often they are serviced in my area and they try to do it every 2 weeks, but also I test all water that I get before it goes in the tank, no matter what... I make sure it is fine in all parts

michaeldaly · 06/16/2006, 11:29 AM

If you also would like to be able to drink the purified water opting for the r/o only would be better.
De-ionised water is more likly to leach benifitial minerals from your body

06/15/2006, 09:08 PM	#1
mfp4073 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 1,506	top off water? I need to do my daily top off, but realized I dont know what to use. Normally I would just use a water conditioner like start right or genisis, but I dont know if that is bad for the liverock or whatever. I can also just let water sit overnight, but figured Id ask.

06/15/2006, 09:10 PM	#2
bjonesjr1 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 1,258	The best thing for top-off water is RO/DI... If you have a water machine at your local supermarket then that water will do... oh yea *To Reef Central* __________________ Bobby Current Tank Info: 75gal, LifeReef CLF1 Sump & SVS2-24 Skimmer

06/15/2006, 09:11 PM	#3
bjonesjr1 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 1,258	tap water is just bad to begin with and chemicals to fix the water is not to good IMO.... __________________ Bobby Current Tank Info: 75gal, LifeReef CLF1 Sump & SVS2-24 Skimmer

06/15/2006, 09:22 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	And don't just let water sit to remove chlorine. It no longer works: cities have started using chloramine, which won't break up in bubbles. You can get a ro/di unit for well under 200.00. The amount you will spend buying fresh water will top that...especially when it comes to water changes. My reason for being against the water conditioners is that, after it's chlorine free, it's still tap water, with all that might be in it, metals, copper from your house pipes... (lethal to marine organisms) etc. And that can cost you a whole lot. A ro/di unit will save you a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and water carrying. And a portable one can hook up to a washing machine spigot with a Y connector, or to your kitchen sink. That guarantees that water will not negatively affect your tank or your specimens. __________________ 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%.

06/15/2006, 09:23 PM	#8
bjonesjr1 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 1,258	I buy 5 gallons of RO/DI water at the local supermarket machine for $1 they just lowered it from $1.50 so I always use their machine, and its always serviced on time, and when needed by Glacier water company... __________________ Bobby Current Tank Info: 75gal, LifeReef CLF1 Sump & SVS2-24 Skimmer

06/15/2006, 09:12 PM	#4
fsa Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 412	Most people suggest you use r/o (reverse osmosis) water for all your water needs. If you don't have one, the main thing is to rid your tap water of the chlorine, so use some type of dechlorinator. I am not familiar with start right or genesis, but whatever you use, get out the chlorine. Frank

06/15/2006, 09:18 PM	#5
atvdave Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,763	Also ask your local fish store if they sale R/O water, but most grocery stores sale R/O water also. Just cost more.

06/15/2006, 09:21 PM	#6
Bambalamb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 102	With a 5 gallon nano such as yours, the water should be as good as possible. With such a small volume of water, the margin for error is not high. I would use RO water at the least, with RO/DI (reverse osmosis, de-ionized) water be optimal.

06/15/2006, 09:47 PM	#9
mfp4073 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 1,506	I REALLY dont trust those supermarket machines.....I have known several people I have known that work at them have told me they often dont get serviced. Here in florida those machines can breed some pretty nasty stuff. $200 for a machine is WAY out of the question. __________________ Bristle worms are evil and need to be eradicated, at night they creep out of the tank and charge internet porn to your credit cards....ask me how I know. Anyone else notice that anthelia smells like fresh cut water chestnuts? ....they call me chad Current Tank Info: 1 crashed 75 gal..it was really beautiful while it lasted.

06/16/2006, 11:19 AM	#10
bjonesjr1 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 1,258	I have caught the guy who services the machine before and got to talk to him about how often they are serviced in my area and they try to do it every 2 weeks, but also I test all water that I get before it goes in the tank, no matter what... I make sure it is fine in all parts __________________ Bobby Current Tank Info: 75gal, LifeReef CLF1 Sump & SVS2-24 Skimmer

06/16/2006, 11:29 AM	#11
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	If you also would like to be able to drink the purified water opting for the r/o only would be better. De-ionised water is more likly to leach benifitial minerals from your body