Lesson Learned about useing Tap water?

[daniel411]

I think I learned a lesson on tap water this weekend. I used about a gallon of tap water with conditioner added for top-off as I was all out of rodi water. Went to work.
Came home 16 hours later:
-3 dead citron gobies
-2 dead fire fish
-all my shrimp are dead
-snails... kapoop
-crabs.. are alright
-and all my corals look really bad
The only change in my tank was the top-off with conditioned tap water.

 

[logan15]

i use Tap water all my fish shrimp crabs and snails are still alive

 

[daisy]

When you say "conditioned" tap water, does that mean you added some sort of something that is supposed to neutralize chlorine, etc? If so, that is probably what did you animals in, not the tap water itself.
Lots of us use tap water that we let sit for a day or more -- with proper aeration, the chlorine leaves the water just by sitting out for a day.
What did you add to the water to "condition" it? Was it salt-water safe, or was it maybe a fresh water conditioner?

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by Daniel411
I think I learned a lesson on tap water this weekend. I used about a gallon of tap water with conditioner added for top-off as I was all out of rodi water. Went to work.
Came home 16 hours later:
-3 dead citron gobies
-2 dead fire fish
-all my shrimp are dead
-snails... kapoop
-crabs.. are alright
-and all my corals look really bad
The only change in my tank was the top-off with conditioned tap water.
See what happens when you use ro/di? And what happens when you use "conditioned" tap water?
Seriously, I am sorry about your losses and hope the corals recover.
But something else is going on here. All snales do not up and die because 1/50 of the aquarium water was suddenly tap. Could be the additive. But basically something else is going on other than the tap. Too many people here and elsewhere have excellent reef system using tap water from many different sources.
Two dangers from RO/DI or other processed waters IMO are 1) failure of the equipment doing the processing and 2) running out of the special water.

 

[daniel411]

I'm not positive that its the tap water, hence the question mark. Although that is the only variation which was introduced to my knowledge.
I can not think of the name of the conditioner, but it is meant for saltwater. The bottle was close to a year old. I don't know if it can go bad over time?
I'm kind of at a loss as to what could have done this over the course of a day. Wondering if I should test my water for heavy metals.

 

[bang guy]

I can't think of anything in Tap water that could kill fish in 16 hours with such a small amount. I would also point the finger at the conditioner. Is it one of those gimmicky conditioners that contains a slime helper or Aloe?
Bang

 

[beaslbob]

One poster reported a conditioner that removed nitrAtes. Not a tap water conditioner but instructive anyway. the additive did remove nitrates, ammonia, phosphates as advertised. It also removed oxygen. And was recalled from themarket. But not before the poster had losses. because of those types of reports I simply do not use any conditioners of any type. And so far no additives for doseing anything as well.
Again sorry about your losses.

 

[daniel411]

Thanks,
I don't know the name of the conditioner, but it was a Tetra product. Which will be pitched when I get home.
I did a large water change, placed carbon in a hot magnum, and hopefully the corals will turn around.
I think that it bothers me more, not knowing exactly why all of the fish died, than if I just made a dumb mistake. Er well, I still have my watchman goby.

 

[skirrby]

id contact the company about the product and let them know it killed your fish.. but more than likley it probably wont get you anywhere

 

[mouse03245]

I know Im gonna get some crap for this...but i use tap water with a salt water conditioner and i have no problem.I have fo with ls.To be honest, i think if you change things from the way your fish tank is used to,then it causes problems...i know im still kind of new but this is only my opinion.if you use ro/di stick with it. I know once I can afford it i will try to gradually change to ro/di also...Im sorry about your lose. and good luck!

 

[blk822]

I had a red slime remover take all the o2 out of my water befor and everything died over night. I think your problem was the conditioner and most likly the age of it.

 

[fishking]

i have use aquarium pharmacutical water conditioner, until i got a RO/DI unit. Also that is why u should always have ro water handy, whenever i take out ro water i add more