Can I use normal tap water with Red Sea or Instant Ocean mix for my salt water?

leeh · 09/07/2009, 04:04 PM

I've been advised to go get Red Sea or Instant Ocean salt mix, which is reasonably priced at our local fish shop but can I use normal tap water to mix this up or do I need some form of purification? My tank has a 12.7 Gallon capicity (its a Orca Nano Reef T450).

Many thanks.

chort55 · 09/07/2009, 04:10 PM

You should use RO/DI water per what everyone else will say. That being said, I use tap and IO.

EverettReef · 09/07/2009, 04:14 PM

Can but not should. A lot depends on the TDS of your tap water and what impurities it contains.

jenglish · 09/07/2009, 04:16 PM

RO/DI or distilled
with a tank that small it may be easier to just pick up distilled water at the grocery store.

scottsr · 09/07/2009, 04:23 PM

If the TDS are low enough go for it, but most tapwater is high in TDS, TDS in water can promote GHA growth, and from what I know a little phospate will grow GHA quite well. I recomend RO/DI.
Scott

scottsr · 09/07/2009, 04:24 PM

If you use tapwater be sure to use a dechlorinator.

reefergeorge · 09/07/2009, 04:24 PM

When I only had a 12 gallon, I bought premixed saltwater from my lfs. If it were a 50+ I would say buy a rodi filter, and mix your own.

09/07/2009, 04:04 PM	#1
leeh Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 13	Can I use normal tap water with Red Sea or Instant Ocean mix for my salt water? I've been advised to go get Red Sea or Instant Ocean salt mix, which is reasonably priced at our local fish shop but can I use normal tap water to mix this up or do I need some form of purification? My tank has a 12.7 Gallon capicity (its a Orca Nano Reef T450). Many thanks.

09/07/2009, 04:14 PM	#3
EverettReef Lounge Pariah Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Everett, Wa Posts: 257	Can but not should. A lot depends on the TDS of your tap water and what impurities it contains. __________________ Bruce

09/07/2009, 04:16 PM	#4
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	RO/DI or distilled with a tank that small it may be easier to just pick up distilled water at the grocery store. __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

09/07/2009, 04:24 PM	#7
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	When I only had a 12 gallon, I bought premixed saltwater from my lfs. If it were a 50+ I would say buy a rodi filter, and mix your own. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

09/07/2009, 04:10 PM	#2
chort55 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Flint, MI Posts: 1,274	You should use RO/DI water per what everyone else will say. That being said, I use tap and IO.

09/07/2009, 04:23 PM	#5
scottsr Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 112	If the TDS are low enough go for it, but most tapwater is high in TDS, TDS in water can promote GHA growth, and from what I know a little phospate will grow GHA quite well. I recomend RO/DI. Scott