Already cutting corners??

[Ratbrow]

Per some great recomendations from you all, I've been calling around to see what places can give me a good price on some nice live rock. While doing so, several of the "experts" I talked to said there was no reason to use RO/DI water for my first fill. They said.."No need on your first fill, just use tap water since your tank will need to cycle anyway."

I am no expert by any means...but why is that making me nervous? I know it would make things a lot easier on the first fill, but I feel like I am cutting corners already and I haven't even started. Am I overanalyzing this? I plan on getting an RO/DI anyway for water changes and such, but what would you guys recommend for the first fill?

Thanking you in advance for your comments.

[FullBoreReefer]

Probably want to sell you a CUC for all the algae after it cycles, lol. jk

I would use ro/di if at all possible, but thats me. Unless the upfront cost of the ro/di is to much for you, i would use it. There are many other things youll be spending more on so i say mise well get it now... my .02

[bellis31]

Use RO/DI even for your cycle. Why introduce a bunch of crud right from the get go...

[kurt_n]

I think the title you gave your own thread answers your own question!

I think you'll find lots of advice falling on both sides of the fence. If you're going to do a nearly 100% water change at the end of the cycle, who cares... right? But you're also introducing a total unknown to your tank right in the very beginning. Your water might be fine, or it might not. You just don't know what you're introducing.

If you have the ability to use RO/DI right off the bat, I'd recommend you do so.

[phillrodrigo]

And if not go to wal mart and buy distilled

[Boston21]

Dont fill your tank with Tap water, even if its cycling.

[cjcolvin]

Absolutely agree with everyone on this one. To many unknowns with tap water. So yes that would be cutting corners and with the amount of money about to be dumped into your setup the cost of the ro/di is just a drop in the bucket.

[idisc]

There is no reason NOT to use tap water + conditioner on your first fill / cycle - I would get a RO / DI unit, but you don't need this right off the bat. But then again all peoples water is different..I would suggest testing your tap water levels and then use that as a decision.

My tap comes out less than .25 and it has high KH, but my tank is doing just fine cycling. I do top off with distilled and going to have my RO / DI when it finishes to do my large WC with.

[Ratbrow]

Great stuff to chew on thank you. A few more questions:
1. My tank is 50. Can I purchase RO Water from walmart or someplace like that for a first fill?
2. Generally, how many gallons can a RO/DI pump make in say an hour?
3. Finally, while my tank is cycling, what are the rules for the lighting. I have a Aqualife 6 bulb t5 with LED.

Thanks!

[Pez68]

Originally Posted by idisc

There is no reason NOT to use tap water + conditioner on your first fill / cycle - I would get a RO / DI unit, but you don't need this right off the bat. But then again all peoples water is different..I would suggest testing your tap water levels and then use that as a decision.

My tap comes out less than .25 and it has high KH, but my tank is doing just fine cycling. I do top off with distilled and going to have my RO / DI when it finishes to do my large WC with.

And if his tap has copper in it? Why not do it right from the start and not worry about unknowns?

[igot2gats]

Like others have said, don't use tap. Go with RO/DI water.

Also, you can save a bunch of money by buying dead rock instead of live rock.

Just a thought.

[CoralReeForrest]

This hobby is a slow down kind of hobby, it's taken me 8 months just to get my tank and currently it's all plumbed and ready to go sitting in the garage. Why you ask? Because I don't want to cause my self issues before I even begin and take the enjoyment out of the hobby. I'm waiting to purchase an RODI unit, until then my tank will sit and wait. If you cause yourself a huge migraine before you actually really begin its going to all be a waste cuz it will become a chore to constantly fix all the issues from cutting corners. An RODI unit for an inexpensive one will run less then 175 on BRS. Don't cut corners and cause issues. Order one and do things right the first time.

[thegrun]

Originally Posted by idisc

There is no reason NOT to use tap water + conditioner on your first fill / cycle - I would get a RO / DI unit, but you don't need this right off the bat. But then again all peoples water is different..I would suggest testing your tap water levels and then use that as a decision.

My tap comes out less than .25 and it has high KH, but my tank is doing just fine cycling. I do top off with distilled and going to have my RO / DI when it finishes to do my large WC with.

Really? Copper, nitrates, phosphates, heavy metals all come to mind as very good reasons to use RO/DI water.

[thegrun]

1. Yes you can use distilled water purchased at any supermarket.
2. Most RO/DI units do not actually need a pump unless your water pressure is below 45psi. A standard 75 GPD unit will make 3 gallons per hour (75/24=3.125).
3. Most of us do not run thier lights during the cycle, it only promotes algae growth. However if you have any corals on your live rock I would run the lights for 6 hours a day.

[ryeguyy84]

Originally Posted by Ratbrow

Great stuff to chew on thank you. A few more questions:
1. My tank is 50. Can I purchase RO Water from walmart or someplace like that for a first fill?
2. Generally, how many gallons can a RO/DI pump make in say an hour?
3. Finally, while my tank is cycling, what are the rules for the lighting. I have a Aqualife 6 bulb t5 with LED.

Thanks!

1. Most LFS's sell RODI water for around $.50 a gallon. Get some Home Depot buckets with lids or my LFS will rent you water jugs for the first fill.

2. This will vary. In the summer mine will do 6 gallons an hour. In the winter it's around 4.

3. Lighting is up to you during the cycle. I like to setup a lighting schedule and run it during the cycle.

IMO buy the RODI unit

[Bd670]

Just buy the ro unit now. I tried it without one and it was a joke. Seriously your life will revolve around getting water and you wont be as diligent at water changes.

[dkeller_nc]

A couple of explanatory notes about the conflicting advice you've gotten in this thread:

If you're starting your tank with real live rock, then yes, it's pretty important to start with saltwater made from purified water. The live rock will have a lot of organisms on it besides bacteria - sponges, tunicates, invertebrates, etc.. Copper or other metal contaminants in saltwater made from tap could easily kill these critters and leave you with a lot less than you paid for.

If you're starting your tank with dead rock and a bottle of bacteria, it's not necessary to start with RODI, though it's a good idea. The reason is that most anything in tap water, including copper, will be sharply depleted in the water by the time it cycles and you introduce the macro life that makes up a reef tank.

However, you must use RODI or distilled water for evaporation make-up unless your tap water is very clean indeed. Constant introduction of even low levels of contaminants through evaporation make-up can concentrate heavy metals and/or nutrients in your tank far above their native levels in tap water, which is potentially going to create problems down the road.

[MondoBongo]

i would advise the RODI. i started my tank with, and used, just regular RO water for the first few months. i had all kinds of algae issues that subsided when i finally bought my RODI unit.

you will be happy you got the RODI unit.

[Clamagore]

Originally Posted by idisc

There is no reason NOT to use tap water + conditioner on your first fill / cycle...

I've read that water conditioners can skew the results of ammonia tests, which would be rather confusing for a first time experience.

[Boston21]

Originally Posted by idisc

There is no reason NOT to use tap water + conditioner on your first fill / cycle - I would get a RO / DI unit, but you don't need this right off the bat. But then again all peoples water is different..I would suggest testing your tap water levels and then use that as a decision.

My tap comes out less than .25 and it has high KH, but my tank is doing just fine cycling. I do top off with distilled and going to have my RO / DI when it finishes to do my large WC with.

Yeah, who's to say his water doesnt contain a ton of metal's... like most water...

[cjcolvin]

I still would not use tap water just seems like a game of Russian roulette. My local water company sends out yearly water analysis of the municipal water and it has loads of things the we in the hobby preach about not introducing into a reef system. Just bite the bullet and get the rodi it will save headaches down the road.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by thegrun

Really? Copper, nitrates, phosphates, heavy metals all come to mind as very good reasons to use RO/DI water.

Exactly. Why introduce stuff you will be trying to remove.

[sh0ck]

Use RO/DI, but no need to use expensive 12KH 500Ca reef salt.

[cloak]

I would fill it up with tap water from the start. Who knows, you might be one of the lucky ones. There's a lot of people on this site & others that have used tap water for there reef tanks and have had great success. I'm one of them. (14 years) Don't get me wrong, RO/DI is great and all, but it's not like your going to avoid some of the algae that tends to accompany a new tank to begin with. JMO. GL.

[Eastamherstbias]

Only use ro/di. Nothing else needs to said.