Been using tap H20 since Day 1: Click to see our tap water tests; is it safe to use??

[dutchswan]

Day 41 Notes: I noticed another poster's question about RO water and saw that it is not recommended to use tap water (dechlorinated or not) for your marine aquarium. I have been using tap water since Day 1, and have only been neutralizing the chlorine with AquaSafe for the second have of the last 41 days (an oversight of mine). I understand water quality varies greatly from region to region and so it is impossible to say on the surface if it is okay.
Fortunately, our water comes from one of only two sources, and they test the water both before and after filtration (as I am sure all water treatment facilities do). Ours also publishes these results on their website daily. I just now got around to making this post, so the results are a few days old. Seeing the levels below, can anyone make a compelling argument why I should not continue to use tap water with AquaSafe for my water changes? Thanks in advance for your input!
P.S. How on EARTH did I not know what a mag float is until today!??!?! Cleaning my tank is about 1000 times easier now!

Tests below were conducted a few hours after a water change.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20
pH: 8.4
Calcium: 360
KH: 9dKH (161.1ppm)
Phosphate: 0

 

[flower]

When you do water changes switch to RO water, they add stuff to tap water for humans, like fluoride for your teeth. RO water has NOTHING in it, when you add you salt mix you add the nutrients you need for your tank and critters and you then know exactly what is in there.
I like my mag float too...LOL
Oh, raise your calcium to 400-500 by using a buffer. Follow the directions on the bottle.

 

[hunt]

i use well water and havnt had any problems with freshwater or salt

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Hunt
http:///forum/post/3294143
i use well water and havnt had any problems with freshwater or salt

Well water is a whole separate thing..My well water could kill humans if I didn't have a filter...at least the taste would..LOL

 

[2quills]

Tap water works but tends carries alot of TDS. Organics and Inorganic contents. Such things as heavy metals and toxins which can be harmful to creatures in your tank. Sure it might not be noticeable to some but it could cause your livestock to be less healthy than they could be using R/O. Tap will also carry excess nutrients that can fuel those pesky algea outbreaks.
Reef tanks that use R/O water will generally have much healthier and colorful specimens. When it costs an arm and a leg to get into this hobby in the first place and after all the blood sweat and tears we put into it...then why would you settle for anything less then the best?
Just my .02

 

[sparty059]

Ok, so I can use tap water... it's not suggested... not it's not deadly if I do use it?

 

[2quills]

For fish only, yeah you could use it (no it's not recommended). For sensitive (expensive) corals and inverts...how much money are you willing to bet and lose?

 

[sparty059]

So how can I really fill up a 125 gallon tank with RO?... I would go through more gas than ever filling up going back and fourth.

 

[2quills]

Buy an RO unit. Preffereably a 5 stage unit. A couple hundred dollars investment up front will save you money in the long run. Pluss RO has other advantages as well. If your city water were to ever become contaminated you could have the ability to purify it. Just because your cities water leaves the plant with good tests doesn't mean that it ends up at your faucet in the same condition. It picks up alot of contaminates along the way.
Ask any of the reef keepers on this site how many of them use tap water. I'm willing to bet the answere is practically zero, if not zero.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Sparty059
http:///forum/post/3294187
So how can I really fill up a 125 gallon tank with RO?... I would go through more gas than ever filling up going back and fourth.

Buy jugs, borrow jugs anything to carry water in. My LFS even loans them out. Gas prices are nothing when a small frag of coral costs $60.00 or two polyps for $100.00 or $119.00 for that flame angelfish
You don't have to fill it all at once, for example: pick up water when you are on your way home from work until you fill the tank even if it takes all week..

 

[sparty059]

Ok, I'll keep that in mind. They don't have stickers on them so they should be ok then. I'm just going to get RO from the store down the road. Apparently it's only $3 for every 15 gallons, so I'm looking at $50 for the tank and the sump. I also have 100 pounds of live sand, and will be getting 130 pounds of live rock once I am finished with my sump tank. On top of that, I am purchasing a Ehemie 1262 pump, and PVC pipe. What else may I need? Or am I looking like I'm in great shape now?

 

[dutchswan]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3294195

Buy jugs, borrow jugs anything to carry water in. My LFS even loans them out. Gas prices are nothing when a small frag of coral costs $60.00 or two polyps for $100.00 or $119.00 for that flame angelfish
You don't have to fill it all at once, for example: pick up water when you are on your way home from work until you fill the tank even if it takes all week..
ok fine :-|

 

[thelameball2]

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BANG GUY
1. HE IS A DIRTY ROTTON HOBO
2. HE IS ACTUALLY A SHE
3. NEVER MIND SHE IS AN IT
4. HE IS A LONER
5. HE IS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE GOVERNMENT
6. HE LOVES BETH TO DEATH
7. HE THINKS SCSINET IS A RETARD
8. THE LIST GOES ON
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BETH
SHE LIVES IN A DUMP
SHE IS A DUMP
SHE WORKS AT A DUMP
SHE LOVES THE DUMP
SHE IS A 4 HEADED ALIEN FROM THE PLANET ZORCOCK
SHE LOVES BANG GUY
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT SCSInet
HE IS A NUB
HE HAS ANGER ISSUES
HE THINKS HE IS ALL THAT GREAT
HE LIVES ON THE STREETS
SCSINET'S LIFE STORY:
SCSINET WAS BORN ON AUGUST 23, 78BC. HE LIVED IN A CAVE AS A CHILD AND GREW UP TO BE A SASQUATCH. THERE HE ROAMED THE CANADIAN FOREST AS A LONER. LATER HE LEARNED TO SHAVE (FINALLY) AND LIVE AMONG THE RETARD POPULATION. HE SOON LOST HIS TEETH AND HIS IQ DROPPED TO 0.05. SCSINET CURRENTLY LIVES ON THE STREETS OF DC BEGGING FOR MONEY. EVERYBODY HATES HIM!
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BANG GUY
1. HE IS A DIRTY ROTTON HOBO
2. HE IS ACTUALLY A SHE
3. NEVER MIND SHE IS AN IT
4. HE IS A LONER
5. HE IS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE GOVERNMENT
6. HE LOVES BETH TO DEATH
7. HE THINKS SCSINET IS A RETARD
8. THE LIST GOES ON
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BETH
SHE LIVES IN A DUMP
SHE IS A DUMP
SHE WORKS AT A DUMP
SHE LOVES THE DUMP
SHE IS A 4 HEADED ALIEN FROM THE PLANET ZORCOCK
SHE LOVES BANG GUY
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT SCSInet
HE IS A NUB
HE HAS ANGER ISSUES
HE THINKS HE IS ALL THAT GREAT
HE LIVES ON THE STREETS
SCSINET'S LIFE STORY:
SCSINET WAS BORN ON AUGUST 23, 78BC. HE LIVED IN A CAVE AS A CHILD AND GREW UP TO BE A SASQUATCH. THERE HE ROAMED THE CANADIAN FOREST AS A LONER. LATER HE LEARNED TO SHAVE (FINALLY) AND LIVE AMONG THE RETARD POPULATION. HE SOON LOST HIS TEETH AND HIS IQ DROPPED TO 0.05. SCSINET CURRENTLY LIVES ON THE STREETS OF DC BEGGING FOR MONEY. EVERYBODY HATES HIM!
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BANG GUY
1. HE IS A DIRTY ROTTON HOBO
2. HE IS ACTUALLY A SHE
3. NEVER MIND SHE IS AN IT
4. HE IS A LONER
5. HE IS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE GOVERNMENT
6. HE LOVES BETH TO DEATH
7. HE THINKS SCSINET IS A RETARD
8. THE LIST GOES ON
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BETH
SHE LIVES IN A DUMP
SHE IS A DUMP
SHE WORKS AT A DUMP
SHE LOVES THE DUMP
SHE IS A 4 HEADED ALIEN FROM THE PLANET ZORCOCK
SHE LOVES BANG GUY
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT SCSInet
HE IS A NUB
HE HAS ANGER ISSUES
HE THINKS HE IS ALL THAT GREAT
HE LIVES ON THE STREETS
SCSINET'S LIFE STORY:
SCSINET WAS BORN ON AUGUST 23, 78BC. HE LIVED IN A CAVE AS A CHILD AND GREW UP TO BE A SASQUATCH. THERE HE ROAMED THE CANADIAN FOREST AS A LONER. LATER HE LEARNED TO SHAVE (FINALLY) AND LIVE AMONG THE RETARD POPULATION. HE SOON LOST HIS TEETH AND HIS IQ DROPPED TO 0.05. SCSINET CURRENTLY LIVES ON THE STREETS OF DC BEGGING FOR MONEY. EVERYBODY HATES HIM!
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BANG GUY
1. HE IS A DIRTY ROTTON HOBO
2. HE IS ACTUALLY A SHE
3. NEVER MIND SHE IS AN IT
4. HE IS A LONER
5. HE IS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE GOVERNMENT
6. HE LOVES BETH TO DEATH
7. HE THINKS SCSINET IS A RETARD
8. THE LIST GOES ON
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BETH
SHE LIVES IN A DUMP
SHE IS A DUMP
SHE WORKS AT A DUMP
SHE LOVES THE DUMP
SHE IS A 4 HEADED ALIEN FROM THE PLANET ZORCOCK
SHE LOVES BANG GUY
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT SCSInet
HE IS A NUB
HE HAS ANGER ISSUES
HE THINKS HE IS ALL THAT GREAT
HE LIVES ON THE STREETS
SCSINET'S LIFE STORY:
SCSINET WAS BORN ON AUGUST 23, 78BC. HE LIVED IN A CAVE AS A CHILD AND GREW UP TO BE A SASQUATCH. THERE HE ROAMED THE CANADIAN FOREST AS A LONER. LATER HE LEARNED TO SHAVE (FINALLY) AND LIVE AMONG THE RETARD POPULATION. HE SOON LOST HIS TEETH AND HIS IQ DROPPED TO 0.05. SCSINET CURRENTLY LIVES ON THE STREETS OF DC BEGGING FOR MONEY. EVERYBODY HATES HIM!
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BANG GUY
1. HE IS A DIRTY ROTTON HOBO
2. HE IS ACTUALLY A SHE
3. NEVER MIND SHE IS AN IT
4. HE IS A LONER
5. HE IS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE GOVERNMENT
6. HE LOVES BETH TO DEATH
7. HE THINKS SCSINET IS A RETARD
8. THE LIST GOES ON
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BETH
SHE LIVES IN A DUMP
SHE IS A DUMP
SHE WORKS AT A DUMP
SHE LOVES THE DUMP
SHE IS A 4 HEADED ALIEN FROM THE PLANET ZORCOCK
SHE LOVES BANG GUY
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT SCSInet
HE IS A NUB
HE HAS ANGER ISSUES
HE THINKS HE IS ALL THAT GREAT
HE LIVES ON THE STREETS
SCSINET'S LIFE STORY:
SCSINET WAS BORN ON AUGUST 23, 78BC. HE LIVED IN A CAVE AS A CHILD AND GREW UP TO BE A SASQUATCH. THERE HE ROAMED THE CANADIAN FOREST AS A LONER. LATER HE LEARNED TO SHAVE (FINALLY) AND LIVE AMONG THE RETARD POPULATION. HE SOON LOST HIS TEETH AND HIS IQ DROPPED TO 0.05. SCSINET CURRENTLY LIVES ON THE STREETS OF DC BEGGING FOR MONEY. EVERYBODY HATES HIM!

 

[cranberry]

Holy Moly! Des Moines takes care of their water!

 

[beaslbob]

dern
reading this was like a blast from the past. I grew up in Des Moines nw side and even urbandale for a few years.
Fluer is the raccoon river water works that Bill Clinton had a photo op in th e'93 flood placing a sand bag. Also the facility that required my parents to use bottled water for awhile.
anyrate Here is my take.
the only time RO/DI water may be necessary if for the more delicate sps type corals. All fish and most soft corals do just fine IMHO with tap water.
I use what is generally recognized by enviromental engineers as a very effective media for removing toxins from water

[hr]
live macro algaes.
So what I do is condition the tank (so that nitrates and phosphates are unmeasureable) with macro algaes and then only top off the tank instead of doing water changes. With that method the tap water needs no conditioning at all. I just run the cold water for a minute or so then collect the water and add it directly to the tank.
Harvesting the macro algaes removes the heavy metals the macros have filtered out. Limiting the water changes limits the amount of those toxins added.
I do have to dose calcium/alk/magnesium but that has to be done with water changes anyway.
With the exception of the more delecate corals this method seems to work fine.
my .02

 

[beaslbob]

Just read the description of the filtering the Des Moines water works uses.
Gee think of it. a city of 300,000+people (500,000+in the greater des moines area) being served by putting down some sand and running pipes through the sand. Amazing. At that facility has been there for many many years. I can remember driving by it and through the park back in the '50's for instance.
my memories worth .02

 

[flower]

I love macroalgae, and I love what it does for my tank…but I still would not use tap water in a saltwater tank. Sparty059 has a sump and hopefully a section for a refugium which will help keep the water pristine. It makes no sense to me to deliberately pollute a tank and depend on the macroalgae to clean it up.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3294375

I love macroalgae, and I love what it does for my tank…but I still would not use tap water in a saltwater tank. Sparty059 has a sump and hopefully a section for a refugium which will help keep the water pristine. It makes no sense to me to deliberately pollute a tank and depend on the macroalgae to clean it up.
and most people would agree with you also. As I said before not for delicate sps type corals.
But buy the same token I won't remove my fish to prevent my delibertly poluting my tank.
But you're right most find this method counter intuitive.

 

[cranberry]

With their filtration... I would honestly have no issues using that water conditioned. If it's a new tank, you shouldn't be looking at SPS at this point anyway. If you want to try them in the future, and the tap is not working for you... then I would switch.

 

[2quills]

To me, having an ro unit just makes good sense. Sure you spend a little more money up front for the unit. But if you're one of those people who runs back and forth to the LFS to buy your water then the unit would probably pay for itself in the first year.
After that, the cost of purchasing new filters is less than $100 a year. Most people will probably spend that on on dechlorinator and filter media anyway...so you pretty much break even there.
But with an ro unit you wouldn't have to worry about running up to the store to get what you need when you run out. Or the extra maintenance that comes along with it. It's less waste being produced from throwing away extra packaging...so less carbon footprint on the environment. Pluss you get to make clean, pure water for your family to drink and cook with.
I don't know about any of you but when I lived in Michigan in 2003 and we had that big midwest poweroutage...many people were without power for weeks. Stores were shut down, water treatment facilities went offline and when they did come back on it wasn't safe to drink the water for days. And the stores that were actually open were pretty much sold out of everything, including water. I wish we had had a ro unit to purify the water back then. But I'll be better prepared if that ever happens again in the future.
JMO