Water . . .

[StevenSeas]

What kind of water should I get from HEB or other place for my tank? I had read that if I got the wrong kind it would be potentially harmful to my fish (like spring water or something like that). This water will be used for my ato for now b/c I'm tired of brown diatom algae. Please remember Im in College Station and not SA so dont tell me to go to gabes or somewhere like that. Thanks

[Mr Cob]

Check the local sponsors for RO/DI water. Bring 5 gallon jugs and fill up. It's cheap and the sponsors have clean water.

If there aren't any Sponsors in your area, call the LFS and see if they have any. If that's a closed door still...you'll definitely want to invest in a RO/DI unit....which I STILL need to do as well.

Last but not least... HEB...spring water (not sure there is anything else besides distilled???)...but you are most likely going to have problems because they are not always up to date on changing out their filters. Add a water conditioner to remove chloramines.

As a last resort....I have even just bought distilled water in an emergency....need to add a water conditioner to remove chloramines though.

Ummmm....some are successful with Tap...but you better know what you're doing to combat the micro algae.

[Europhyllia]

HEB spring water is super high in TDS. I would not use that. HEB has something with a purple label called purified water that's a much better choice if you want to use grocery store water.

[Mr Cob]

^there you go....couldn't remember what it was they had in those machines...I have used them but had bad micro algae problems...same with distilled water.

[StevenSeas]

ok ill look into that, what about the 5 gallon jugs that you see at say HEB or HD? and there is no lfs aside from petco and petsmart within an hr and a half of here, and i refuse to give them my business ... unless its an emergency. As far as installing an RO/DI unit, doubtful my those in charge of my dorm will be happy with that. Guess its purple labeled HEB water for now, till i can stock up when i come home

[kkiel02]

RODI just hooks up to a stink. I used it in my apartment. I would strongly recommend getting one as in the long run they will save you money.

[cbianco]

...Guess its purple labeled HEB water for now, till i can stock up when i come home

I've used it! Works well but get's expensive.

In the future, plan to invest in a RO/DI unit. More money upfront but overall cheaper normally.

Christopher :)

[BSJF]

When you are in SA, drop off some containers when you get here, and I will fill them for you from my RO/DI to take back home after you pickup your corals.

[Salty]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that you don't need to get super worked up about this. You can use HEB water at an absurd price or you can go to one of those windmills or ice station and fill up some 5 gal containers from Wally world. As for me, I use good old Queen City Aquifer water straight out of the Pleasanton water supply for free. Some get anal about TDS, I have great results and our water is pumped out at 1000-1100 ppm, mainly chlorides.

[StevenSeas]

Salty - do you get any brown diatom algae? If so how do you deal with it

[msmith619]

Be carefull with College Station water. I used to live there and when I did, they had super high chloramine levls.... bad for fish. I don't have a RO/DI unit and buy my water in 5 gallon containers at Walmart. They have a Culligan machine that dispenses RO/DI water for 27 cents a gallon. Cheap enough for me.

[StevenSeas]

thanks for the heads up Mike

[Salty]

I did during the initial cycle but it is now well controlled. I do have more algae than some but I admit I'm bio-overloaded and a compulsive overfeeder. Alot of focus gets put on silicates but remember that the algae needs the nitrates to actually grow and turn the silicates into shell. Keep the nutrient level under control and the minerals won't matter. If I had a sump instead of HOB skimmer and fuge I'm certain my tank would be even better. I don't see why you couldn't have the same results. Also of note, I don't use any water conditioners, literally straight out of the tap into my mix up containers. I'm such a rebel!!!!!

[Gseclipse02]

Be carefull with College Station water. I used to live there and when I did, they had super high chloramine levls.... bad for fish. I don't have a RO/DI unit and buy my water in 5 gallon containers at Walmart. They have a Culligan machine that dispenses RO/DI water for 27 cents a gallon. Cheap enough for me.


be careful with that water make sure filter was recently replaced ... i used it to fill up my tank and BAM hair algae.... i was so mad never had any till than 2 weeks later i bought my RODI unit