Unfiltered tap got into my RODI container

_Mackus_ · 03/05/2013, 12:44 PM

My roommate was trying to be helpful while I was away filling a 1 gal bucket with water from my RODI reservoir and adding it to the tank when my ATO couldn't keep up evaporation and the water level dropped, he misunderstood my directions and instead filled up the bucket with water from the tap and poured that into my RODI reservoir.

The RODI reservoir is a 44 gal brute container that is over half full, and he only added a gallon of freshwater from the tap to it. Should I dump / pump out the entire reservoir and refill it again with newly filtered RODI or will the minimal amount of unfiltered water generally have little effect? I use the RODI to mix saltwater for water changes as well as to mix kalkwasser to use in my ATO reservoir.

Thanks for the advice.

Guygettnby · 03/05/2013, 01:02 PM

just leave it be and continue life. it is not going to cause any problems with that small amount he added.

thegrun · 03/05/2013, 01:02 PM

I would dump it. There are a lot of variables such as your tap water quality and what your tank's current overall condition is, but if for nothing else, peace of mind alone would be a good reason. If you have any hair algae issues, problems with phosphates or nitrates or have any copper in your water you definately should dump it.

Cymonous · 03/05/2013, 01:14 PM

I would dump it. Who knows what would be in that tap water. Just make fresh RO/DI.

Guygettnby · 03/05/2013, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

I would dump it. There are a lot of variables such as your tap water quality and what your tank's current overall condition is, but if for nothing else, peace of mind alone would be a good reason. If you have any hair algae issues, problems with phosphates or nitrates or have any copper in your water you definately should dump it.

so your saying that 1 gallon of water not filtered from the tap wich has been diluted into another 22 gallons of filtered water, wich could then be diluted with yet another 20g of filtered water, wich is then very, very slowly added to a tank with even more water volume, wich has a decent filtration system would make a huge difference?

thats pretty funny crap there.

unless the OP water qaulity is so bad that it is affecting him or making him sick i would seriously doubt it is going to crash his tank or cause any problems. do you know how many people out there in the real world have reef tanks setup and never use a RODI filtration setup? yet all they use is maybe some prime or let the water sit for 24hrs before using it?

better yet, i know a crap load of people that use water directly from the gulf of mexico or one of the inlets. now you know that water is no where to even being close to most peoples tap water.

_Mackus_ · 03/05/2013, 01:35 PM

Several years ago, before I found this site, decided to upgrade to a 125 gal tank, and become a much more informed reefer, I used to keep a 29 gallon tank in which I always used tap water to mix my saltwater and do top offs. Was able to keep a few inverts, a pair of clowns, and some soft corals alive for 4-5 years in that, though I did have algae issues. So I don't think the water is too bad in my area (Baltimore).

MikeyUU · 03/05/2013, 01:43 PM

1:22 ratio of tap to ro/di should not pose a issue for you. I would not stress over it.

disc1 · 03/05/2013, 01:44 PM

It was just 1 gallon??? Unless you have truly horrible water I'd just pretend it never happened and go on with life.

Sk8r · 03/05/2013, 01:51 PM

I'd trust disc1.
OToH, being a belt-and-suspenders type person, I'd add a small dose of Prime just in case, to take care of the chlorine.

_Mackus_ · 03/05/2013, 01:57 PM

Thanks for the opinions, everyone.

03/05/2013, 12:44 PM	#1
_Mackus_ Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 198	Unfiltered tap got into my RODI container My roommate was trying to be helpful while I was away filling a 1 gal bucket with water from my RODI reservoir and adding it to the tank when my ATO couldn't keep up evaporation and the water level dropped, he misunderstood my directions and instead filled up the bucket with water from the tap and poured that into my RODI reservoir. The RODI reservoir is a 44 gal brute container that is over half full, and he only added a gallon of freshwater from the tap to it. Should I dump / pump out the entire reservoir and refill it again with newly filtered RODI or will the minimal amount of unfiltered water generally have little effect? I use the RODI to mix saltwater for water changes as well as to mix kalkwasser to use in my ATO reservoir. Thanks for the advice.

03/05/2013, 01:14 PM	#4
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	I would dump it. Who knows what would be in that tap water. Just make fresh RO/DI. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

03/05/2013, 01:44 PM	#8
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	It was just 1 gallon??? Unless you have truly horrible water I'd just pretend it never happened and go on with life. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

03/05/2013, 01:51 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I'd trust disc1. OToH, being a belt-and-suspenders type person, I'd add a small dose of Prime just in case, to take care of the chlorine. __________________ 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%.

03/05/2013, 01:02 PM	#2
Guygettnby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: FL Posts: 3,050	just leave it be and continue life. it is not going to cause any problems with that small amount he added.

03/05/2013, 01:02 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I would dump it. There are a lot of variables such as your tap water quality and what your tank's current overall condition is, but if for nothing else, peace of mind alone would be a good reason. If you have any hair algae issues, problems with phosphates or nitrates or have any copper in your water you definately should dump it.

03/05/2013, 01:35 PM	#6
_Mackus_ Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 198	Several years ago, before I found this site, decided to upgrade to a 125 gal tank, and become a much more informed reefer, I used to keep a 29 gallon tank in which I always used tap water to mix my saltwater and do top offs. Was able to keep a few inverts, a pair of clowns, and some soft corals alive for 4-5 years in that, though I did have algae issues. So I don't think the water is too bad in my area (Baltimore).

03/05/2013, 01:43 PM	#7
MikeyUU Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 45	1:22 ratio of tap to ro/di should not pose a issue for you. I would not stress over it.

03/05/2013, 01:57 PM	#10
_Mackus_ Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 198	Thanks for the opinions, everyone.