r.o water

[toneytigger4]

how bad is the water here if I start a tank up with tap water am I doomed from the start:at_wits_end: or will I be ok till I get an ro setup

[wesheltonj]

I think so. Go buy some water from an RO machine.

[tebstan]

I use tap. My tank is beautiful and I don't have algae problems.

Come on, someone else around here has got to use tap. Fess up. ;)

[Big_Pun]

nope ive lost coral to using tap also the coral didnt look as happy

[BIGBIRD123]

Most water in SA is about 245-265 TDS..WAYYYYY more than I would start or use in a pinch. This hobby is hard enough w/o creating your own situation. You are better off buying water from in front of HEB for $0.25 a gallon. I've bought mine there before and the TDS was less than 10. JMHO

[aquasport24]

I would not risk w/ tap water, it may be ok today, but eventually you will pay for it. With RO water nitrate is around 0-10ppm, tap water nitrate will be around 220-360.ppm.

[toneytigger4]

Thanks for the input folks I was just checkin, and to be honest I wondered about heb and walmarts water machines ( wasnt really sure if it was filtered or distilled )

[Gseclipse02]

i used walmarts water when i started my tank up ... lots of hair algae

[tebstan]

I would not risk w/ tap water, it may be ok today, but eventually you will pay for it. With RO water nitrate is around 0-10ppm, tap water nitrate will be around 220-360.ppm.

220-360? seriously? When was that, and where? No offense, but I don't buy it. My nitrates are 0. And when I test straight from the tap, I get the same. Phosphates may be an issue, and I'll even grant that there can be things I don't test for that cause a problem. But not nitrates. If it were that high straight from tap nothing would live, not even my betta.

[justahobby]

I used tap water for a FOLWR tank. A switch to rodi made a huge impact on the amount of hair algae. That was Cibolo water though.

[jrsatx20]

i used the windmill water without any problems. used it for about 2 yrs

[corydrysdale]

I started off using tap water and conditioner. Had algae growing on my rock , glass and if the fish stopped swimming im sure it would grow on them as well. About 4 months ago, i bought a 4 stage RO/DI unit and since then added 2 color changing resin filters uping it to a 6 stage unit. TDS meter says about 230 going in and 0 coming out. Never tested tap water. Also started using a phosphate unit to help combat whatever may be left. Tank looks much better and im not cleaning the glass half as often as i was.

[alton]

Before we moved (business) our tap water nitrates on West Avenue and IH10 were at 10ppm. There are many things in tap water that we don't test for like copper, pesticides, and more. When I first started up in salt water I ran with tap water for years. But if you look at what you have invested in your tank, a RO system is a cheap investment.

[Big_Pun]

yup i get around 233 ppm out the tap, also salt mixes better with ro, even suggest on the directions to reach the levels they state to use ro water

[fs40reef]

I just purchased a TDS meter and in Bulverde it shows 390 going in and 6 to 8 coming out of my RO/DI. Time for a filter change.
Will

[Neptune@gabesfish]

I know a few customers that use tap and they have really nice tanks .. again far afew between will it work for but it can work .. Years ago thats all we had of course recent years in using some sort of filtered water we have had great advancement in reefin.. remember never one way of doing something.. better ways but never one way..Ohh and the ones using tap come out and say it before I put you out in the open..LOL

[corruption]

Tap can keep a good tank, and the benefit our water has is buffering ability -- the large majority of the total dissolved solids in San Antonio's water is calcium (from our limestone aquifer), coupled with an average pH in the range of 7.8-8.1.. I've done both -- and theres more work in balancing a tank with tap water, at least for me... but both can keep a beautiful tank with work :)

-Justin

[jrsatx20]

whos this guy neptune whats he talking about. j/k we all need a system like his.

[toneytigger4]

I think im gonna use tap at the start up in about a week I should have my ro filter

[FireWater]

Tap should be ok to use as long as you test it first. Some sources can be pretty nasty.

[ballardjr2000]

I have used tap water in my tank got lucky here in kingsville tested the water and I'm as they say on the good side of town. 0 trates etc. HOWEVER after this lovely tax return I am buying a RO unit to put in the garage and fill a large container for future use.