Tap water, Dechlorinated Tap results

Louie3 · 06/19/2007, 06:18 PM

Ok well I did a little test today
1st. Tube had 5ml of tap water
2nd. Tube had 5ml of Dechlorinated Tap water
3rd. Tube with 5ml of RO/DI

I used a fresh water test kit to get results.

1st tube
0Amonia
0Nitrite
0Nitrate

2nd Tube
0Amonia
0Nitrite
0Nitrate

3rd Tube
0Amonia
0Nitrite
0Nitrate

So since My tap reads the same compared to RO/DI can I use my Tap and then Dechlorinate it and use it in my Reef or DOWLR tank?
Or should I just stick with my 5g Jugs?

bertoni · 06/19/2007, 06:24 PM

Tapwater can have various contaminants in it besides ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Water quality can also vary from day to day. I chose to buy an RO-DI unit. You might be successful with tapwater, at least for a while.

This article covers the issue in detail:

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

Louie3 · 06/19/2007, 06:54 PM

Very cool info, I guess I overlooked that it was really only Nitrate and Phosphate, but its actually more other things.
Guess I'm going to buy an RO/DI unit in the near future.
I use 4 5g Jugs to get my Water from the Aviant down the street

bertoni · 06/19/2007, 08:17 PM

I think that's the safest approach, personally, although it's even more money on reef tanks.

Louie3 · 06/19/2007, 08:26 PM

And Dechlorinator was the "THING" back then

drummereef · 06/19/2007, 10:38 PM

Louie3, pick up a good TDS meter and check your tap water. If it doesn't read 0 then you are better off with RO/DI.

Louie3 · 06/19/2007, 11:29 PM

Would a good TDS meter be worth $30 or is there one cheaper some where but reliable

Tony44 · 06/19/2007, 11:30 PM

What is a TDS meter? Is this a way to test for phospates?

kh6sat · 06/19/2007, 11:34 PM

My tapwater on the TDS Meter is 247!

Louie3 · 06/19/2007, 11:34 PM

TDS=Total Dissolved Solids

Louie3 · 06/19/2007, 11:35 PM

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are the total amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts or metals dissolved in a given volume of water, expressed in units of mg per unit volume of water (mg/L), also referred to as parts per million (ppm). TDS is directly related to the purity of water and the quality of water purification systems and affects everything that consumes, lives in, or uses water, whether organic or inorganic, whether for better or for worse.

bertoni · 06/20/2007, 11:08 AM

I use a COM-100 TDS meter from SpectraPure. It seems fine, and has gotten very good reviews.

06/19/2007, 06:18 PM	#1
Louie3 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: LagunaVista Posts: 321	Tap water, Dechlorinated Tap results Ok well I did a little test today 1st. Tube had 5ml of tap water 2nd. Tube had 5ml of Dechlorinated Tap water 3rd. Tube with 5ml of RO/DI I used a fresh water test kit to get results. 1st tube 0Amonia 0Nitrite 0Nitrate 2nd Tube 0Amonia 0Nitrite 0Nitrate 3rd Tube 0Amonia 0Nitrite 0Nitrate So since My tap reads the same compared to RO/DI can I use my Tap and then Dechlorinate it and use it in my Reef or DOWLR tank? Or should I just stick with my 5g Jugs?

06/19/2007, 06:24 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Tapwater can have various contaminants in it besides ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Water quality can also vary from day to day. I chose to buy an RO-DI unit. You might be successful with tapwater, at least for a while. This article covers the issue in detail: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rhf/index.htm __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/19/2007, 08:17 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I think that's the safest approach, personally, although it's even more money on reef tanks. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/19/2007, 10:38 PM	#6
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Louie3, pick up a good TDS meter and check your tap water. If it doesn't read 0 then you are better off with RO/DI. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

06/19/2007, 11:34 PM	#9
kh6sat Premium Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Maili, Hawaii Posts: 144	My tapwater on the TDS Meter is 247! __________________ Rick D. Maili, Hawaii Current Tank Info: 120-Gal Reef / Fish

06/19/2007, 06:54 PM	#3
Louie3 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: LagunaVista Posts: 321	Very cool info, I guess I overlooked that it was really only Nitrate and Phosphate, but its actually more other things. Guess I'm going to buy an RO/DI unit in the near future. I use 4 5g Jugs to get my Water from the Aviant down the street

06/19/2007, 08:26 PM	#5
Louie3 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: LagunaVista Posts: 321	And Dechlorinator was the "THING" back then

06/19/2007, 11:29 PM	#7
Louie3 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: LagunaVista Posts: 321	Would a good TDS meter be worth $30 or is there one cheaper some where but reliable

06/19/2007, 11:30 PM	#8
Tony44 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lantana, FL Posts: 778	What is a TDS meter? Is this a way to test for phospates?

06/19/2007, 11:35 PM	#11
Louie3 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: LagunaVista Posts: 321	Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are the total amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts or metals dissolved in a given volume of water, expressed in units of mg per unit volume of water (mg/L), also referred to as parts per million (ppm). TDS is directly related to the purity of water and the quality of water purification systems and affects everything that consumes, lives in, or uses water, whether organic or inorganic, whether for better or for worse.

06/20/2007, 11:08 AM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I use a COM-100 TDS meter from SpectraPure. It seems fine, and has gotten very good reviews. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni