Dumb dumb question :(

aarons1584 · 04/03/2010, 04:48 PM

Finally recieved my 28gal nanocube in the mail yesterday, here comes probably the most dumb question ever asked on this message board. What is the best route to go with water? Tap Water with salt mix ? Natural Ocean water from the Atlantic ocean? the premixed sold in stores water? Whats the best idea? is it possible to use water from the ocean? Would save alot of cash! lol

thanks

Aaron

iap · 04/03/2010, 04:51 PM

Best would be to buy your own rodi unit and mix your own saltwater. I went another way and got all my saltwater from the lfs when I filled up my tank. I have since got my own rodi unit and mix my own saltwater.

iap · 04/03/2010, 04:52 PM

And yes you can use sea water. Altho I never have but have seen people on here that do.

sassyfrassy · 04/03/2010, 04:55 PM

Do you have a Reverse Osmosis unit? RODI water w/ salt mix is the answer most will give you - and it is a VERY GOOD answer. HOWEVER, it isn't the ONLY ANSWER. I had a 75g and I collected natural seawater, but I was very careful. I had a boat and went off shore from an inlet and collected water at the TOP OF INCOMING TIDE - which was the cleanest I could get. Never had any problems and blennies spawned in tank. That said - I would NEVER collect from close to land or at harbor or marina - water too polluted w/ gasoline, oil, everything else. Just my 2 cents worth.

Ston3 · 04/03/2010, 04:59 PM

I'm sure everyone here will strongly recommend not using tap water. It contains a lot of crap that will cause multiple problems in your tank.

The thing about using water from the ocean is that water on the shore may be polluted and not ideally pure. They also can contain undesirable microorganisms which may be harmful to your tank. However, there are methods to eliminate these organisms before you introduce it into your tank. If you were to use water from the ocean, ideally you should collect it far from the coast (a mile or so out) and then you have to rid the water of organisms before use.

With that being said, the general recommendation is to use RO/DI filtered water with store bought synthetic seasalt mix. You may buy RO/DI water from your LFS and add salt or buy SW from them directly. Many people buy their own RO/DI filtration unit to use in their home. Since your tank isn't all that big, the filtration unit may not be really necessary. I buy SW and top off water from my LFS. Doing 5 g water changes every two weeks plus 2 cups top off per day, I spend about $30 a month.

The closest thing to RO/DI water is distilled water, which can be purchased at a grocery store. This water is RO filtered. I use this for top off when I can't make it out to my LFS and it works great. At walmart, they sell it for about $0.90 per gallon. My LFS sells RO/DI water for $0.70.

Good luck

aarons1584 · 04/03/2010, 05:52 PM

Thanks again for all the quick answers!! I really appreciate it!! If I use synthetic salt mix, what brand do most folks go with? Thinking i may use the distilled water with synthetic salt.

Ston3 · 04/03/2010, 05:54 PM

Everybody has their own preference on salt. Keep in mind though, you might want to check out your LFS's prices on RO/DI water. As I mentioned, my LFS sells it cheaper than the grocery store plus it has the added benefit of DI filtration.

gonpostal · 04/03/2010, 07:38 PM

Hello fellow Wilmingtonian!
If you were to take a poll, you'd probably find that most people use Instant Ocean salt mix. It's relatively inexpensive, and just about every LFS carries it.
You have a PM

ka2zesmi786 · 04/04/2010, 01:27 AM

no such thing as a dumb question ^^ if you dont know, then you dont know

tspors · 04/04/2010, 07:39 AM

By the way... if you are going to the store to buy the distilled water..... move over a bit and but the RODI water sold in most stores, instead of the distilled.

brycerb · 04/04/2010, 07:43 AM

I used tap water to cycle my tank, if I had an ro/di unit (I should have waited) I would have less of an hair alge problem.

04/03/2010, 04:48 PM	#1
aarons1584 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 11	Dumb dumb question :( Finally recieved my 28gal nanocube in the mail yesterday, here comes probably the most dumb question ever asked on this message board. What is the best route to go with water? Tap Water with salt mix ? Natural Ocean water from the Atlantic ocean? the premixed sold in stores water? Whats the best idea? is it possible to use water from the ocean? Would save alot of cash! lol thanks Aaron

04/03/2010, 04:55 PM	#4
sassyfrassy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kings Mountain, NC Posts: 912	Do you have a Reverse Osmosis unit? RODI water w/ salt mix is the answer most will give you - and it is a VERY GOOD answer. HOWEVER, it isn't the ONLY ANSWER. I had a 75g and I collected natural seawater, but I was very careful. I had a boat and went off shore from an inlet and collected water at the TOP OF INCOMING TIDE - which was the cleanest I could get. Never had any problems and blennies spawned in tank. That said - I would NEVER collect from close to land or at harbor or marina - water too polluted w/ gasoline, oil, everything else. Just my 2 cents worth. __________________ Faith, hope, and love abide; but the greatest of these is love. Current Tank Info: 40g breeder DT LR & Macro Algae - 2" sand, 6 T5s & 2 fans in hood; 30gL sump/fuge w/MSX 200 skimmer & other equip.; (mangroves in DT - roots are great look)

04/03/2010, 04:59 PM	#5
Ston3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 330	I'm sure everyone here will strongly recommend not using tap water. It contains a lot of crap that will cause multiple problems in your tank. The thing about using water from the ocean is that water on the shore may be polluted and not ideally pure. They also can contain undesirable microorganisms which may be harmful to your tank. However, there are methods to eliminate these organisms before you introduce it into your tank. If you were to use water from the ocean, ideally you should collect it far from the coast (a mile or so out) and then you have to rid the water of organisms before use. With that being said, the general recommendation is to use RO/DI filtered water with store bought synthetic seasalt mix. You may buy RO/DI water from your LFS and add salt or buy SW from them directly. Many people buy their own RO/DI filtration unit to use in their home. Since your tank isn't all that big, the filtration unit may not be really necessary. I buy SW and top off water from my LFS. Doing 5 g water changes every two weeks plus 2 cups top off per day, I spend about $30 a month. The closest thing to RO/DI water is distilled water, which can be purchased at a grocery store. This water is RO filtered. I use this for top off when I can't make it out to my LFS and it works great. At walmart, they sell it for about $0.90 per gallon. My LFS sells RO/DI water for $0.70. Good luck __________________ \| 37g reef \| 10g diy sump \| mag 7 return \| 300gph diy overflow \| Current t5ho 96w \| Odyssea PS75 \|

04/03/2010, 05:54 PM	#7
Ston3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 330	Everybody has their own preference on salt. Keep in mind though, you might want to check out your LFS's prices on RO/DI water. As I mentioned, my LFS sells it cheaper than the grocery store plus it has the added benefit of DI filtration. __________________ \| 37g reef \| 10g diy sump \| mag 7 return \| 300gph diy overflow \| Current t5ho 96w \| Odyssea PS75 \|

04/04/2010, 01:27 AM	#9
ka2zesmi786 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Oxnard Posts: 55	no such thing as a dumb question ^^ if you dont know, then you dont know __________________ -Machine Current Tank Info: 75 fresh, 60 salt

04/03/2010, 04:51 PM	#2
iap BOSS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 691	Best would be to buy your own rodi unit and mix your own saltwater. I went another way and got all my saltwater from the lfs when I filled up my tank. I have since got my own rodi unit and mix my own saltwater.

04/03/2010, 04:52 PM	#3
iap BOSS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 691	And yes you can use sea water. Altho I never have but have seen people on here that do.

04/03/2010, 05:52 PM	#6
aarons1584 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 11	Thanks again for all the quick answers!! I really appreciate it!! If I use synthetic salt mix, what brand do most folks go with? Thinking i may use the distilled water with synthetic salt.

04/03/2010, 07:38 PM	#8
gonpostal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 550	Hello fellow Wilmingtonian! If you were to take a poll, you'd probably find that most people use Instant Ocean salt mix. It's relatively inexpensive, and just about every LFS carries it. You have a PM

04/04/2010, 07:39 AM	#10
tspors Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Appleton, WI. USA Posts: 774	By the way... if you are going to the store to buy the distilled water..... move over a bit and but the RODI water sold in most stores, instead of the distilled. __________________ Everything is Good with Moderation. Current Tank Info: 150 Gal Oceanic, 30g Sump, Gen-X PCX-150 2250 gph, Red Sea Clasic Turbo Skimmer, 18w Turbo Twist UV, Ocean Clear Filter w/live rock, Several Buckets,

04/04/2010, 07:43 AM	#11
brycerb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Isle of wight, VA Posts: 541	I used tap water to cycle my tank, if I had an ro/di unit (I should have waited) I would have less of an hair alge problem. __________________ -Luckily, my wife is reef safe so I can use my normal income for this hobby. -My cichlids love RO waste! Current Tank Info: 7.5 gallon box with water in it.