I plan on starting a sw tank here in the next week or two and have questions about RO water. I plan on starting with only fish until i know I can handle corals. My main question is, how important is it to have RO water with fish only? I know with corals it is strongly suggested to have RO water, but are sw fish as sensitive? Once I go with corals is RO or RO/DI better? I plan on having live rock and sand to start with as well. Thanks!
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If you start with tap water then it will always be in your system. No matter how many water changes you do some will remain in the tank. The main reason to stay away from tap is the algae it causes due to impurities. So if you want algae then use tap. IMO any saltwater tank should atleast use RO water, that of course is just my opinion. You may be fine with tap water, but I doubt it.20g mixed reef
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Depending on where i lived, i have used either one or the other.
When i lived in Louisiana and water is hard and had high TDS i had to use RO water.
Since moving to houston (around the galleria area) where the TDS is significantly lower that previously, i have always just used 100 tapwater.
But make sure that your top-up water is ALWAYS RO water.
I do warn however that tapwater seems to cause a significantly larger diatom and algae bloom when just starting out and cycling. Probably because of the dissolved nutrients. The solution seems to be running a macroalgae refugium 24/7 during the cycling process. The macrolagae will help suck up nutrients.
Good luck!
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Its hard enough controlling algae in RO/DI water but to use tap water for creating SW, IMO, is asking for trouble to start one day. To each his own.
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Originally posted by semper View PostYou will be fine with tap. Just ask anyone that has seen my tanks
When there is an algae outbreak, or a question about a sickened coral, it makes it so much easier to rule out UNKNOWN water contamination if your source water is pure.
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Originally posted by nightster View PostIf you start with tap water then it will always be in your system. No matter how many water changes you do some will remain in the tank. The main reason to stay away from tap is the algae it causes due to impurities. So if you want algae then use tap. IMO any saltwater tank should atleast use RO water, that of course is just my opinion. You may be fine with tap water....Originally posted by nacra99 View Post...I do warn however that tapwater seems to cause a significantly larger diatom and algae bloom when just starting out and cycling. Probably because of the dissolved nutrients. The solution seems to be running a macroalgae refugium 24/7 during the cycling process. The macrolagae will help suck up nutrients.
Good luck!Originally posted by Darbex View PostIts hard enough controlling algae in RO/DI water but to use tap water for creating SW, IMO, is asking for trouble to start one day. To each his own.Originally posted by RocketSurgeon View PostWe are not saying that it can't be done...
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Yeah my tap water TDS is about 300-400. Thats way to uncomfortable for my taste. My RO/DI water is 0-4 TDS. That alleviates the worry of contaminants.
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By the way, those watermill express places filter their water with RO/DI. The one by my place is 25 cents a gallon.135 gal Fahaka Puffer
150 gal Threadfin Acaras, Angels, Red Spotted Severum, Gold Severum, and a Silver Dollar
185 gal Demasoni, Yellow Labs, Venustus, Rustys, Plecos, Clown Loaches, and Sharks
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Originally posted by BeefyG View PostBy the way, those watermill express places filter their water with RO/DI. The one by my place is 25 cents a gallon.
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