how bad is tap water

stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
So I have a 180 gallon tank. Not going to be a reef tank. I really don't have a practical way to get filtered water. I live 70 miles from the closest LFS. Nor do I really have the place or the $$ to get a filter for my water. So I was wondering how much trouble will I get into using tap water?
 
rcdude1990

rcdude1990

Active Member
im not sure u should call ur water company and ask
mine said it is safe to drink and wat not so i used tap water

i filled my tank with it and then i added declorifier and now its been up for a month and nothin bad has happened at all :jumping:
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
I would get a test of your water to check parameters.
But in light of the actual cost of running a 180g tank? I would strongly consider the $100 - $200 investment in a RO/DI system.
You may simply find yourself battling problems down the road. If you are prepared for it, then go ahead with the tap water.
BTW, are you near to any grocery stores or walmarts that have those water machines? Maybe in the future that is an option for you.
 
imurnamine

imurnamine

Active Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
I would get a test of your water to check parameters.
But in light of the actual cost of running a 180g tank? I would strongly consider the $100 - $200 investment in a RO/DI system.
You may simply find yourself battling problems down the road. If you are prepared for it, then go ahead with the tap water.
BTW, are you near to any grocery stores or walmarts that have those water machines? Maybe in the future that is an option for you.

Wow, you can use those?!
I may just start buying some of that and using it for waterchanges after adding salt and whatnot.
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
What are some problems that are caused by tap water? Besides brown algea. I have alot of that. I will try using the walmart stuff, the reverse osmosis one or distilled?
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
In general people use the RO because distilled is more expensive. But there is no reason you could shouldn't use distilled as you are mixing salts back in...just more purification than is necessary.
But yes, you can use those "glacier" machines or the water mill, etc. If you read the water treatment you will see that those are Reverse Osmosis machines.
 
topfins-mj

topfins-mj

Member
I used Tap water to get my tank started, then two months later my tank spiked with nitrates, algae all over and lost three percula fish. I will say stay away from tap water since it will just cause you more problems in the long run. The RO/DI set up is easy and cost effective.
 
a2fire2i

a2fire2i

Member
around me, that is all the LFS use. They even use tap water when servicings peoples aquariums! One guy was telling me its cheaper to use tap water and to add all kinds of chemicals, than it is to use RO/DI water. I have a great place down the road that has a huge RO/DI system that i get my water from. 30 cents a gallon..
 
E

emeralcrab

Guest
It seems like all tap water is different, mine had ammonia in it but no trites or trates. I was having BIG problems keeping ammonia down, would do water changes and it would be just as high or higher.
I also noticed a huge differance in the slime algae, I would alway have it using the tap water. I now go to our local water store and buy their 5 gal water jugs and do water changes with that until I can get a ro unit. Don't have the slime algae anymore.
Me I would use only RO water now after battling with my well water. But like I said every well is different. Yours might be fine...mine wasn't.
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
What in water makes it different? Say I got test my water. What do I want or do I not want in my water. I really don't have problems with Nitrates or trites. But I really can't seem to get my ammonia down. I need more liverock I'm just waiting for the money to buy it. I don't really think it is from my tapwater.
 
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emeralcrab

Guest
Did you check your tap water? I didn't think it was mine either and I couldn't get ammonia down, BIG water changes per LFS. I was at a loss, LFS said I was either feeding to much or two many fish. Finially I checked my well water and WOW :scared: it was 6.68. No wonder I couldn't get the ammonia down. My LFS said that he had seen that about 3 times in the 20+ years he has been in business.
So I use RO water from our local water store. I will get a RO unit soon tho.
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
So I tried to test my water and it wouldn't show up without salt. So I said heck with it and mixed it for my tank. (It will be the last time)
Because everything was pegged all the way up ammonia nitrites and trates and my PH was really down. And I tested it 3 times. So I poured some prime in. Well alot in. And really started searching for a RO filter.
 
E

emeralcrab

Guest
I'm glad you found out. I was shocked that my ammonia was that high in my well, but I didn't have anything else high. Just ammonia, I given had a lab test our well water and my salt tests were right on. I was amazed. 6.68 ammonia with no measurable trites or trates. But now I get my water in the 5 gal bottles until I can get a RO unit. Good luck.
 
oceana

oceana

Active Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
But yes, you can use those "glacier" machines or the water mill, etc. If you read the water treatment you will see that those are Reverse Osmosis machines.
i'm looking for my old post from a few years ago now but i did a study on these machines and they came out VERY poorly. some being worse then tap.
no machine turned out 0 TDS and the best one was 178 if i recall.
the only way to know you are getting good water is to make it yourself so that you are in control of the filter. IMO if you are investing all the time and money into a large tank the extra 200 bucks for an rodi unit will be one of the cheaper thing you will need
 
oceana

oceana

Active Member
depends on which unit your looking at
if your looking at the SpectraPure MAXCAP RO/DI then IMO its a very nice unit. i like the built in TDS meters before and after the di. nice little touch.
you should also ook into the typhoon III almost the same unit as above without the built in TDS readings but it does come with a hand help one . great company great product. also a bit cheaper. you would be very ahppy with either of these units
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by oceana
depends on which unit your looking at
if your looking at the SpectraPure MAXCAP RO/DI then IMO its a very nice unit. i like the built in TDS meters before and after the di. nice little touch.
you should also ook into the typhoon III almost the same unit as above without the built in TDS readings but it does come with a hand help one . great company great product. also a bit cheaper. you would be very ahppy with either of these units
that typoon looks really cool. I found one for 159+25 bucks for shipping is that a pretty good price?
 
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