3 Questions

paisley

paisley

New Member
I have three questions for you. (For now, anyway)
1. Live Sand? I've had a fish only tank for over two years, and a couple months ago I switched to a reef tank. I got live rock, but kept the dolomite gravel that I had. Is this OK? Should I get live sand instead?
2. R/O Water? I've always bought distilled water from Wal-Mart for my water changes. I currently have a bit of an algae problem. Is R/O water the solution? How much does an R/O filter cost -- I heard it was like $200!!
3. Salt/Water changes? I have always mixed my salt and water right before adding it to the tank. Some people say that is OK... others say the water should be mixed and stored in a big plastic trash can with a powerhead for 3 months before it can be added. Any advice.
I just found this site last week, and you guys seem to give really good advice. It also seems to be mostly similar advice too, which is nice. The most annoying thing about this hobby I've faced so far is that when I have a problem, I try to get several points of view. I have six saltwater fish stores in my area, and I get six completely different answers for the same question! Sometimes I'll get 3 different answers from three different people in the same store!! It's quite annoying. Anyways, any help you can give me is very appreciated.
 
clwhite

clwhite

New Member
I too, like Paisely, Just found this site a few days ago. I agree that everyone usually has the same information on problems and running a successful marine ecosystem. I have been in the hobby for about 9 months now and could use a lot of info. I seem to have a thousand questions but can only seem to remember a couple of them when I visit my fish store. I have a pretty substantial amount of money in my tanks and I sure don't want it to crash. look forward to hearing from everybody.
 
drillbit

drillbit

New Member
Paisley,
You mentioned that you have 6 fish stores nearby. I bet that most of them sell RO water premixed for fairly cheap. My lfs sells premixed RO water for $1/ gallon. I was paying .65/g for distilled at walmart and it isnt RO and I still had to buy the salt. Plus, buying from the lfs solves the question to #3 about letting the saltwater sit.
 
drillbit

drillbit

New Member
I have small aquarium, so I just store the water in 1g jugs. I also run an airstone for about 30min before a water change.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
The least you should do for saltwater mix is overnight. Get a cheap plastic garbage pale [that is deadicated to the hobby, plez! LOL] and mix up the salt and water [preferrable RO water]. Drop an airstone in to get a better mix. The idea is to MIX the water and salt. Think of it this way. When you want ice tea, you don't just dump the sugar in do you?...no, you mix it up. Otherwise, the sugar doesn't dissolve in the water. The same is true of salt water mixes. In order to get adequate salinity reading, the water and sea salt needs to be throughly mixed.
[This message has been edited by beth (edited 03-19-2000).]
 
the rock

the rock

Member
the rock says...
i agree with ranger, and just fyi a reef tank can be self sufficient with live rock, live sand, and powerheads only. and water changes don't need to be done very often if you have the right set up. if you are adding a lot of fish or have a lot of fish you will have to do water changes but most reef tanks don't have too many fish and the inverts and micro organisms can clean up after the few fish that you do have. test your local water supply but RO or distilled is always a good idea especially if you can get it cheap, obviously most stores that are coastal keep actual sea water on hand for cheap too
 
shorddpimp

shorddpimp

New Member
I found out today that I can have an RO filter installed by Culligan. They install the unit and maintain it for you for a fee of 21.00 a month. This includes coming out to your house and changing your filters for you for nothing. The filter in question produces 30 gallons of 97% pure RO water a day. What do you guys think of this idea? Sound like a good deal?
 
H

hogwild

Guest
Ok, call me ignorant. What is RO water? Is there someplace I can find what all these abbreviations (RO, DI, HO, VHO, etc) mean?
 
dave

dave

New Member
1) I agree with Reef Ranger, if, for two years your rock was in your tank, you have live rock, and sand is much more naturally and asteticaly pleasing to look at!
2) Have you ever gone to your local grocery store and saw a water refill machine? I get mine at Safeway! It is RO (Reverse Osmosis) and also light treated (forgot the scientific term!) and is 99% pure (I took a sample to the county water testing facility and it had little, to no impurities)
3) It is BEST to let it sit after mixing your salt/water, but by no means, a major crime to mix and pour! The filters and water flow will continue to mix the new added salt/water at an acceptable rate (just mix it WELL before adding!)
4) All of the info posted here is the reason I come back for more and more advise too! Glad you found it!!!
[This message has been edited by Dave (edited 03-27-2000).]
 
kris

kris

Member
I agree paisley, it hard for a beginner (or an experienced person) to know what to do when there are so many different opinions! I have 17 books, 2 software programs and excellent lfs owner, and this board as my resources so I have heard alot of stuff. I go with the majority rules, and my own common sense.
 
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