topofsteel
Member
Is there a way to use tap water for an initial fill and treat it. It would take a lot of 5 gallon buckets to fill my tank. Thanks.
first fill - non RO water
- Thread starter topofsteel
- Start date
noah's nemo
Member
all i use is tap,goinig on 3+ years.No problems.
jchase1970
Member
I filled my 125 and did a few water changes before i realized i never installed the ro filter. I don't know how much more the ro takes out compared to the other filters but the tank has done good so far. I have the ro cartiage installed now.
flower
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Noah's Nemo
http:///forum/post/3262796
all i use is tap,goinig on 3+ years.No problems.
Not all tap water is created equal. Telling folks it is okay to use tap because you have no issues is misleading. I have seen people with nightmare issues because of tap water, very few indeed can use tap without issues...better safe than sorry. Wal-Mart water only costs .37 a gallon. Why take a chance?
http:///forum/post/3262796
all i use is tap,goinig on 3+ years.No problems.
Not all tap water is created equal. Telling folks it is okay to use tap because you have no issues is misleading. I have seen people with nightmare issues because of tap water, very few indeed can use tap without issues...better safe than sorry. Wal-Mart water only costs .37 a gallon. Why take a chance?
gill again68
Active Member
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3263639
Not all tap water is created equal. Telling folks it is okay to use tap because you have no issues is misleading. I have seen people with nightmare issues because of tap water, very few indeed can use tap without issues...better safe than sorry. Wal-Mart water only costs .37 a gallon. Why take a chance?
I would add if you intend to use tap to have it tested prior to using it. You may very well have good water or it could be soup!
http:///forum/post/3263639
Not all tap water is created equal. Telling folks it is okay to use tap because you have no issues is misleading. I have seen people with nightmare issues because of tap water, very few indeed can use tap without issues...better safe than sorry. Wal-Mart water only costs .37 a gallon. Why take a chance?
I would add if you intend to use tap to have it tested prior to using it. You may very well have good water or it could be soup!
jackri
Active Member
My question is why after spending the money on the tank, fish, salt, corals, lights, filtration, etc would you want to skimp on a cheap (yes more work) way to get your system off to a good start?
Yes it's also true not all tap water is created equal but it only takes one bad batch from the city (doing a flush or whatever) even with "good" tap water to send your tank spiraling.
Yes it's also true not all tap water is created equal but it only takes one bad batch from the city (doing a flush or whatever) even with "good" tap water to send your tank spiraling.
noah's nemo
Member
No
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3263785
How would you deal with cloramines and other heavy metals, Bang?
The chloramines will evaporate in a week without doing anything. No treatment will remove heavy metals from the system, they will only temporarily lock them up.
http:///forum/post/3263785
How would you deal with cloramines and other heavy metals, Bang?
The chloramines will evaporate in a week without doing anything. No treatment will remove heavy metals from the system, they will only temporarily lock them up.
bang guy
Moderator
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3264116
I've never heard it unlocked the metals again at some point. Can you point me towards some reading on that?
I don't know where to point you
sorry.
I do know that when Sodium dithionite is bound to something like copper it is in a fairly safe chemical state. Unfortunately it's in a state that is unlikely to be removed by a skimmer, but possibly by GAC. More likely it will bind to the substrate or other surfaces waiting to be consumed by a snail or other surface feeding critter where it will be unbound by digesting processes (acid). Algae is also able to consume the chelated metal and when the algae is consumed the same thing happens.
http:///forum/post/3264116
I've never heard it unlocked the metals again at some point. Can you point me towards some reading on that?
I don't know where to point you
I do know that when Sodium dithionite is bound to something like copper it is in a fairly safe chemical state. Unfortunately it's in a state that is unlikely to be removed by a skimmer, but possibly by GAC. More likely it will bind to the substrate or other surfaces waiting to be consumed by a snail or other surface feeding critter where it will be unbound by digesting processes (acid). Algae is also able to consume the chelated metal and when the algae is consumed the same thing happens.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
IMHO metals (copper zink, others) are not toxic to fish and most "easy" corals. But can be a problem with sps and other corals.
So in a tank balanced out with macro algaes or even turf (or corraline) algae those the metals present no problems to fish and even easy corals. Additionally, fast growing turf and macro algaes also filter out (bio accumulate) the metals to help maintain the tank. And are exported when the algae is harvested.
Sure in the future you may need to use ro/di for some corals. But otherwise you can continue using tap. Especially if you limit your water changes.
my .02
So in a tank balanced out with macro algaes or even turf (or corraline) algae those the metals present no problems to fish and even easy corals. Additionally, fast growing turf and macro algaes also filter out (bio accumulate) the metals to help maintain the tank. And are exported when the algae is harvested.
Sure in the future you may need to use ro/di for some corals. But otherwise you can continue using tap. Especially if you limit your water changes.
my .02
cableguy
Member
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3264074
Have any of you who said don't do it, ever personally start up a tank with it and have problems that you know were due to the tap? Just curious.
Thats how I started and I had to get a sea hare to take care of the hair algae.
My tap PPM is ~100, out of my RO unit is 1.
http:///forum/post/3264074
Have any of you who said don't do it, ever personally start up a tank with it and have problems that you know were due to the tap? Just curious.
Thats how I started and I had to get a sea hare to take care of the hair algae.
My tap PPM is ~100, out of my RO unit is 1.
noah's nemo
Member
IMO ,hair algae has little to do with tap water.I have never had a problem with it...