Well water

MarshaW · 10/21/2009, 04:53 PM

I'm anxious to get my system up and running so I can get my clown and goby out of this 12 gallon tank. I think I read where some people use well water. My bail bonds business is pretty slow right now, so I need to kinda cut back on $$. If I do use well water, should I go ahead and use Prime? Also, does anyone know how many drops for a 5 gallon jug of the well h2o? I appreciate all responses.

)

arredondojason · 10/21/2009, 05:30 PM

i would suggest taking a sample of your water to your LFS where you buy stuff at and get them to test the TDS of the well water and that should tell you if it is ok to use or not i would try to stay below 10 for TDS.

wab · 10/21/2009, 05:45 PM

Hi, I use well water for 2 tanks and I have no issues. You should have the water tested at a facility for all minerals and other compounds not just for your fish. When you get those results then make a choice if its worth it. Good Luck

MarshaW · 10/21/2009, 06:00 PM

Great!! I'll have it checked tomorrow. I certainly appreciate all the help I get here on RC.

thegrun · 10/21/2009, 09:25 PM

Our city uses well water and it is terrible! TDS around 425, nitrites over 30 ppm. It is so bad I have to run two DI cartridges in series in my DI/RO system to get the TDS under 25. I hope your well waters is better than mine!

MarshaW · 10/21/2009, 10:20 PM

This is country water. Guess I'll know tomorrow if I can use it.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/22/2009, 06:32 AM

Did you ever have the well water tested for human consumption? Heavy metals and such?

MarshaW · 10/22/2009, 08:05 AM

Randy, no I haven't. It's actually my daughters water, and I'm getting ready to go have it tested. Hopefully, the tds wil be minimal.

thegrun · 10/22/2009, 08:49 AM

Keep us posted.

MarshaW · 10/22/2009, 09:04 AM

I'll update as soon as I get it tested.

NirvanaFan · 10/22/2009, 10:24 AM

I'd be more worried about the undissolved solids than the TDS. Who knows what else is in the wate (pesticides, heavy metals that don't dissolve, etc). Does it go through copper pipes? Make sure you test for copper.

zhewitt04 · 10/22/2009, 12:19 PM

I have been using well water as well and had no promblems. I have no copper piping and I do use softened water. My alge growth is very min. I keep the lights on 12 hours a day also. IMO I think RO water is over rated vs well water. I know that RO is better but not as much as people act (as long as your well water test ok)....... again IMO

lordofthereef · 10/22/2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zhewitt04

I have been using well water as well and had no promblems. I have no copper piping and I do use softened water. My alge growth is very min. I keep the lights on 12 hours a day also. IMO I think RO water is over rated vs well water. I know that RO is better but not as much as people act (as long as your well water test ok)....... again IMO

I don't think people generally say that RO is MUCH better than well water in all cases. The problem is, that to be sure it is safe, one must run a handful of tests on the water to begin with. That, and it can still be contaminated in the future, wheras tap water is constantly checked for potability before it makes it to your tap, thus you know what is in it befoew it makes it to your RO so you are mostly just concerned with TDS. It is very likely you have great well water, but it won't necessarily be so great in the future. It also may be much better than that of others.

addictedtofish · 10/22/2009, 05:14 PM

What is it gonna cost you for 12 gal of R.O.D.I. h20, $7.00? Well worth it especially with such a small tank.

wooden_reefer · 10/22/2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarshaW

I'm anxious to get my system up and running so I can get my clown and goby out of this 12 gallon tank. I think I read where some people use well water. My bail bonds business is pretty slow right now, so I need to kinda cut back on $$. If I do use well water, should I go ahead and use Prime? Also, does anyone know how many drops for a 5 gallon jug of the well h2o? I appreciate all responses.

)

Well water can be high in nitrate if there is agriculture near by.

There can be other issues as well.

egos4life · 10/22/2009, 06:02 PM

I use water fro the glacier water machines... its rodi and only like 1$ 5 gallons ive had my 72 bow up for pushing a year now and have had great results... Knock on wood

wab · 10/22/2009, 06:28 PM

My well here in nj is full of all the thing that make things grow and look great so i'll just keep on opening the spick-et and closing my wallet. MY TANK IS ORGANIC> LMAO

10/21/2009, 04:53 PM	#1
MarshaW Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Paseo Art District in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Posts: 518	Well water I'm anxious to get my system up and running so I can get my clown and goby out of this 12 gallon tank. I think I read where some people use well water. My bail bonds business is pretty slow right now, so I need to kinda cut back on $$. If I do use well water, should I go ahead and use Prime? Also, does anyone know how many drops for a 5 gallon jug of the well h2o? I appreciate all responses. ) __________________ Marsha An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused way in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own fault. William Castle Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Nano Cube and a 50 gallon bowfront

10/21/2009, 05:45 PM	#3
wab Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: nj Posts: 512	Hi, I use well water for 2 tanks and I have no issues. You should have the water tested at a facility for all minerals and other compounds not just for your fish. When you get those results then make a choice if its worth it. Good Luck __________________ 1 year plus and still I DON'T KNOW!!!! LOL Current Tank Info: 45 high 30 breeder sump/refuge diy

10/21/2009, 06:00 PM	#4
MarshaW Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Paseo Art District in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Posts: 518	Great!! I'll have it checked tomorrow. I certainly appreciate all the help I get here on RC. __________________ Marsha An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused way in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own fault. William Castle Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Nano Cube and a 50 gallon bowfront

10/21/2009, 10:20 PM	#6
MarshaW Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Paseo Art District in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Posts: 518	This is country water. Guess I'll know tomorrow if I can use it. __________________ Marsha An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused way in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own fault. William Castle Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Nano Cube and a 50 gallon bowfront

10/22/2009, 06:32 AM	#7
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Did you ever have the well water tested for human consumption? Heavy metals and such? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/21/2009, 05:30 PM	#2
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	i would suggest taking a sample of your water to your LFS where you buy stuff at and get them to test the TDS of the well water and that should tell you if it is ok to use or not i would try to stay below 10 for TDS.

10/21/2009, 09:25 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Our city uses well water and it is terrible! TDS around 425, nitrites over 30 ppm. It is so bad I have to run two DI cartridges in series in my DI/RO system to get the TDS under 25. I hope your well waters is better than mine!

10/22/2009, 08:05 AM	#8
MarshaW Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Paseo Art District in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Posts: 518	Randy, no I haven't. It's actually my daughters water, and I'm getting ready to go have it tested. Hopefully, the tds wil be minimal. __________________ Marsha An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused way in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own fault. William Castle Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Nano Cube and a 50 gallon bowfront

10/22/2009, 08:49 AM	#9
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Keep us posted.

10/22/2009, 09:04 AM	#10
MarshaW Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Paseo Art District in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Posts: 518	I'll update as soon as I get it tested. __________________ Marsha An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused way in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own fault. William Castle Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Nano Cube and a 50 gallon bowfront

10/22/2009, 10:24 AM	#11
NirvanaFan Reef Ninja Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,280	I'd be more worried about the undissolved solids than the TDS. Who knows what else is in the wate (pesticides, heavy metals that don't dissolve, etc). Does it go through copper pipes? Make sure you test for copper.

10/22/2009, 12:19 PM	#12
zhewitt04 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kokomo, IN Posts: 764	I have been using well water as well and had no promblems. I have no copper piping and I do use softened water. My alge growth is very min. I keep the lights on 12 hours a day also. IMO I think RO water is over rated vs well water. I know that RO is better but not as much as people act (as long as your well water test ok)....... again IMO

10/22/2009, 05:14 PM	#14
addictedtofish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 38	What is it gonna cost you for 12 gal of R.O.D.I. h20, $7.00? Well worth it especially with such a small tank.

10/22/2009, 06:02 PM	#16
egos4life Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CEN CALI Posts: 123	I use water fro the glacier water machines... its rodi and only like 1$ 5 gallons ive had my 72 bow up for pushing a year now and have had great results... Knock on wood

10/22/2009, 06:28 PM	#17
wab Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: nj Posts: 512	My well here in nj is full of all the thing that make things grow and look great so i'll just keep on opening the spick-et and closing my wallet. MY TANK IS ORGANIC> LMAO __________________ 1 year plus and still I DON'T KNOW!!!! LOL Current Tank Info: 45 high 30 breeder sump/refuge diy