Texas (San Antonio) water

[Drzy]

I have everything I need to start my saltwater aquarium. All that's left is to fill 'er up and begin the cycle. Where have you Texans gotten your water? I'm somewhat new to the area, and the tap water here is harder than my..... well, it's pretty hard. ;) I'm just not sure if I should trust those chemicals that make the water aquarium-ready.

So barring that, what other options are there? It's a 55 gallon aquarium, fish only with live rock.

By the way, very nice site you've got here!

[::pete::]

Welcome to MAAST

An RO/DI unit is a life saver and a $$$ and time saver.

Or you can purchase, lug and travel to the lfs to get it.

[hobogato]

you can try those windmill water dispensers, but sometimes they are hit or miss, just depends on when and how well they have been serviced.

i agree with pete tho. use to do the carry empty buckets, fill em, carry em home - lots of work and not cost effective in the long run. some of our sponsors carry good RO/DI units for a reasonable price.

[falcondob]

Welcome to the home of the MAASTards!

I agree, wouldn't do it without my RO/DI. Just too many problems you don't need from tap water.

Several MAAST sponsors sell systems and refill materials.
John

[ansonluna]

I ran a very nice tank on S.A. tap water. Had all sorts of corals including SPS, clams, anenome, and all sorts of fish and never had a problem. there was always a little brown algea on the sand, but not that big of a deal. I say you will be ok with tap until you get a RO/DI. BTW, only been using the RO/DI for a couple of months. Tank has been set up for nearly a year.

[NaCl_H2O]

As Anson said, short term you are probably OK, but invest in an RO/DI unit. I ran a 125g on tap water, after about 6mo I could no longer accurately test for Ca - thorugh evaporation and topping off with tap water TDS got so high it threw off the test kit. I was warned this situation can cause a tank to crash (Ca preciptation, dKH & PH drop), so I have used RO/DI ever since. You will fight algae more with Tap water, and it is tough to get stable water parms with tap.

If you could filter out everything except the Ca in SA water, it would be great stuff!

[NaCl_H2O]

Oh yea, welcome to MAAST :D Watch the calendar on the home page and come to our next meeting!

[falcondob]

<clip> I say you will be ok with tap until you get a RO/DI. BTW, only been using the RO/DI for a couple of months. Tank has been set up for nearly a year.

I agree. My opinion is that if you can afford it, an RO/DI allows you to know that the water you are putting in is probably constant, regardless of changes in the tap water. You never know what the city is putting in the water and how much. You also don't know what nature will put in. For me there are enough variables to keep track of. I am confident my water is not one of them.

Now, having said that, yes, I know lots of people who either use treated tap or buy RO water and have very successfull tanks. I bought RO when I had my 42 hex up.

I guess it is just what floats your boat.

John

[Drzy]

Thank you, excellent replies! It sounds like the RO/DI would be ideal, but would take some time to set up and get going. I think for now I'll start with treated tap, but invest in an RO/DI very soon and use that for water changes. I'll start cycling Monday or Tuesday, so I'm still a ways away from some fishies anyway.

As for meetings... someday I hope, but I'll just be lurking around in these (and other) forums until I gain some knowledge. I'm a little fish'tarded at the moment. :)

[NaCl_H2O]

I'm a little fish'tarded at the moment. :)
lol ... aren't we all! Lots of great folks here, ask all the questions you need!

[demodiki]

Phosphates are always a concern in tap water. The phosphates here in Round Rock tested at 1.0. Of course, the water I just got from my LFS tested at 5.0 :(

[Ram_Puppy]

I think it all comes down to quantifiable risks. There are so many things to keep track of in a reef tank, why bother adding to the list? Tap water quality fluctuates, and if memory serves, the last Edwards aquifer study of SA water I saw showed trace amounts of nitrate and phosphate (our water is still very good if a bit hard) but why mess with it? an RODI makes a QUANTIFIABLE source of water, you know whats in it. (or actually whats NOT IN IT).

Go RODI