Tap water top off and water changes

[luke33]

Its no secret people use tap water to top off there tank's and for water changes. Has anyone had luck with tap water or is everyone going to act like they purchase or have a rodi filter they use?

[BurntOutReefer]

No luck with my Tap water. It contains too much junk.....and high in nitrate.....only use it for the dishwater and laundry.....
have used it in the past only for emergencies...and have always had an algea bloom afterwards.......

[Joshjohnson]

RO/DI all the way, learned my leason the hard way, huge algae problems.

[aquarius77]

Im not going to act like i do use ro/di water, I DO use ro/di water and nothing else. If you like to gamble and like alge give it a whirl. Take a look around and look what tap water does to tanks. Beautiful displays are maintained using pure water, Its not something we make up and pretend to use.

[luke33]

I live in IN and my water is ph8.0, 0trate, trite, amm. I have not had an algae bloom from water changes or top off. In over a yr now! But i think i'm lucky. If i ever start i'll be purchasing a rodi

[luke33]

Oh, that is out of the tap......Sorry!

[papagimp]

I killed an entire 55g full of guppies and molly's and a few other freshwater fish by using my tap water....and that was with the "appropriate" additives and nuetralizing chemicals. I wouldn't even think of putting that crap in my expensive saltwater setup. Too much invested to take that chance. I purchase my own DI water, and I have a ro/di unit for those emergency needs. Find somebodyusing just straight tap water for there top offs and water changes, and then look at there tank a year down the road....you'll see the problems very clearly. Oh and be sure to ask them how much livestock they have lost because of it.

[wvdiscus]

I use tap water, I age it at least 24 hours in a 30 gallon rubbermaid, with a heater and powerhead. I have never experienced some of the algea horror stories I've read on here.

[papagimp]

Originally posted by luke33
Oh, that is out of the tap......Sorry!

Theres so much more in tap water other than ph, ammonia, nitrates, ect. ect. Tap water contains lot's of heavy metals and other bad chemicals that when you add the saltmix, you throw alot of the levels way out of wack. It may take awhile but eventualy the build up of certain chemicals and elements can cause your system to crash quickly, and when you least expect it. You may have had luck for over a year now, but how much have you spent on your tank overall? is it worth the risk to you?

[luke33]

I have not lost a fish in over a yr. and i only use tap water. I do not have any algae problems and have not since the initial start. But i do feel lucky and i test my tap water weekly to make sure it doesn't change. And i age it for a few days before i use it.

[luke33]

I understand about the metals. I lived in FL and would have never used tap. The water there is very high in metals, but up here in the IN its pretty dang good.

[wvdiscus]

Originally posted by papagimp
I killed an entire 55g full of guppies and molly's and a few other freshwater fish by using my tap water....and that was with the "appropriate" additives and nuetralizing chemicals. I wouldn't even think of putting that crap in my expensive saltwater setup. Too much invested to take that chance. I purchase my own DI water, and I have a ro/di unit for those emergency needs. Find somebodyusing just straight tap water for there top offs and water changes, and then look at there tank a year down the road....you'll see the problems very clearly. Oh and be sure to ask them how much livestock they have lost because of it.

painting with an awful big brush aren't you? I have had my tank up and running for a year and a half. I have lost one yellow watchman goby. Of all the useful and wonderful things I have learned from this site, the one that sticks out the most is; no two people do things the exact same way. Is it a good thing to have a RO/DI system for a saltwater aquarium? Absolutely. Is it 100% necessary? No.

[luke33]

The one thing i will not do without would be a QT. I was just cuious if anyone had luck for years with there tap water.

[BurntOutReefer]

Dont know what part of your state...but the tap water doesnt sound too healthy:
Tap Water Quality Report

The State of Indiana
1,148 Water Systems
Serving 4,726,038 People


An Environmental Working Group analysis of tap water tests from 1998 through 2003 for 1,148 communities across Indiana shows 70 pollutants were found in drinking water across the state.



Pollution Summary

70 Total Contaminants Detected (1998 - 2003)
15 Agricultural Pollutants
(pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms)
Nitrate, Nitrite, Sulfate, Thallium (total), Dalapon, Diquat, Glyphosate, Simazine, Metolachlor, Atrazine, Alachlor (Lasso), 2,4-D, 1,2 Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Ethylbenzene

15 Sprawl and Urban Pollutants
(road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste)
Arsenic (total), Cadmium (total), Mercury (total inorganic), Nitrate, Nitrite, Antimony (total), Glyphosate, MTBE, Benzo[a]pyrene, Xylenes (total), p-Xylene, Tetrachloroethylene, Benzene, m-Xylene, o-Xylene

53 Industrial Pollutants
Arsenic (total), Barium (total), Cadmium (total), Chromium (total), Cyanide, Mercury (total inorganic), Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Sulfate, Antimony (total), Beryllium (total), Thallium (total), Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Chloromethane, Chloroethane, MTBE, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Xylenes (total), p-Xylene, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), o-Dichlorobenzene, p-Dichlorobenzene, Vinyl chloride, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,1-Dichloroethane, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, Carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-Dichloropropane, Trichloroethylene, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, Tetrachloroethylene, Monochlorobenzene (Chlorobenzene), Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, m-Xylene, Styrene, o-Xylene, Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Radium-226, Radium-228, Tritium, Strontium-90, Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)

12 Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts
(pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts)
Cadmium (total), Asbestos, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Chloromethane, Benzo[a]pyrene, Dibromomethane, Chloroform, Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Vinyl chloride

13 Naturally Occurring
(naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development)
Arsenic (total), Chromium (total), Mercury (total inorganic), Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Sulfate, Chloromethane, Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium), Combined Radium (-226 & -228), Radium-226, Radium-228, Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)

8 Unregulated Contaminants
EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for these contaminants
Metolachlor, Chloromethane, Chloroethane, MTBE, Dibromomethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane, Tritium, Strontium-90


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

70 37
15 8
15 10
53 28
12 9
13 9


Total pollutants Agricultural pollutants Sprawl and Urban pollutants Industrial pollutants Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts Naturally occurring pollutants
Number of pollutants detected (1998 - 2003) Over health based limits


NOTE: Health based limits included in this analysis include enforceable drinking water limits (called Maximum Contaminant Limits, or MCLs) as well as governmental, non-enforceable health guidelines, such as Maximum Contaminant Limit Goals (MCLGs), lifetime health advisory levels, one-day and ten-day advisory levels to protect children from non-cancer health endpoints, and other government-established health guidelines for tap water contaminants.



Health Summary

The federal government has set standards for 80 chemical pollutants in tap water, balancing health concerns and treatment costs.

Contaminants found in state tap water (1998-2003): 70

Total population exposed above health-based limits: 3,671,628

Communities served water with contaminants above health-based limits: 423

Health effects or target organs of contaminants found: Cardiovascular or Blood Toxicity, Cancer, Developmental Toxicity, Endocrine Toxicity, Immunotoxicity, Kidney Toxicity, Gastrointestinal or Liver Toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Reproductive Toxicity, Respiratory Toxicity, and Skin Sensitivity.

[View Details]

Contaminants found above health based limits: 37
Rank Contaminant Name Population Exposed (of 4,726,038 Total) Number of Water Systems (of 1,148) Total
At Any Level Above Health Limits
See Note With Detected Above Health Limits
See Note
1 Nitrate 4,260,932 24,018 760 16
Chemical that enters water from fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits
2 Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L) 3,874,899 0 755 0
Mainly pollutants from nuclear testing and industrial and medical instruments
3 Barium (total) 4,093,121 553 661 3
Mineral from drilling and mining waste runoff; erosion of natrual deposits
4 Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 3,809,844 2,451,488 356 113
Measure of four disinfection by-products
5 Chloroform 3,737,944 1,666,490 331 66
Disinfection by-product
6 Bromodichloromethane 3,680,608 3,011,463 282 207
Disinfection by-product
7 Dibromochloromethane 3,343,371 2,991,140 243 177
Disinfection by-product
8 Sulfate 2,751,764 0 211 0
Substance from natural deposits, industrial processes, and agriculture
9 Arsenic (total) 948,868 948,868 200 200
Metal that enters water by erosion of natural deposits, runoff from glass and electronics processing
10 Chromium (total) 1,569,753 2,050 187 1
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits

[luke33]

I agree, they really had problems in the state about 5yrs ago, but since then they have cleaned up great, and have people going to the neighborhoods and testing water to make sure all is well.

[luke33]

But thanks for the above info i won't read! lol

[JustinReef]

I would read that info and be careful with your fish! Its at least worth a skim over. Don't be too hard headed! If you ask people what they do, be ready for many different opinions!

[Shagsbeard]

Tap is hit or miss. Day by day it can vary in quality. We here in Morro Bay routinely get warned not to drink our tap water for a week while something is worked out up the line somewhere. You can have great tap water for months, and then pow... knock out your tank with it.

RO/DI is stable. You know what you're getting. I use it, but I have a really cheap (free) source of it. It's great having a chemistry lab in the building at work, and Marine Bio Lab across town for free salt water. I haven't used the salt water yet... it's just too inconvienent. Many universities will have both types of water free to who ever needs it. Check out your local school and see.

[luke33]

Money isn't the issue and ofcourse i would use the rodi if there were hazards about drinking the water. One reason i have had the luck may be because i run a couple pounds of carbon in my canister filter 24/7 and replace it every month. Thats all tahts in there so it probably would take out anything harmful as far as metals are concern'd fast. And i love to hear everyone's opinions, i didn't mean any pun. I've just heard all that.

[rooroo]

I used tap water for a year and never lost anything due to the water. In that year I lost a lawnmower blenny due to starvation and a bunch of zoos due to sundial snails. I also never had massive algae blooms. In fact I've had more problems with algae in my current tank, and I do now use ro/di.

Best way to figure out if your tap is ok is to find your area's water quality report. Big thing to look at is nitrates. Also look at heavy metals. Then you need to test your tap for copper as copper levels vary per household.

And also read this fantastic article by Randy.

[wvdiscus]

Originally posted by rooroo
I used tap water for a year and never lost anything due to the water. In that year I lost a lawnmower blenny due to starvation and a bunch of zoos due to sundial snails. I also never had massive algae blooms. In fact I've had more problems with algae in my current tank, and I do now use ro/di.

Best way to figure out if your tap is ok is to find your area's water quality report. Big thing to look at is nitrates. Also look at heavy metals. Then you need to test your tap for copper as copper levels vary per household.

And also read this fantastic article by Randy.

Sorry to change the subject, but I think you just help me out with a problem I've had. It is pretty well thought that zoo's are pretty "easy" to grow, but I have trouble with them disappearing. After reading what you wrote, I have seen a little snail in my tank that I believe is a sundial snail. They go after zoos do they? Well, next time I see him, he's a goner. Thank you.

[drummereef]

Originally posted by luke33
Money isn't the issue and ofcourse i would use the rodi if there were hazards about drinking the water. One reason i have had the luck may be because i run a couple pounds of carbon in my canister filter 24/7 and replace it every month. Thats all tahts in there so it probably would take out anything harmful as far as metals are concern'd fast. And i love to hear everyone's opinions, i didn't mean any pun. I've just heard all that.

The carbon really only combats the organics in the water, not the metals. If you want truly 'pure' water, RO/DI has no substitue.

[drummereef]

Here's a couple of articles you need to read.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2004/chem.htm

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rhf/index.php

[luke33]

We'll see. Vtines day is coming up. Like i said, its not the money...its the Wifey! If she only new!!!!! But i get all the points, sure i know it has to be better than tap, but for now tap is working great. I will change in the near future i'm sure. Thanks for everyone's input. I would like to see some more people post who use tap water though.

[drummereef]