need help with test results

silentm

silentm

Member
im starting a new saltwater tank and unfortunantly i dont have access to a ro filter,so i tested my tap water.im using red sea marine lab.my ph test was to low to match a color wich lowest is 7.4 on chart.ammonia match the 0 color o chart.alkalinity was to low to match a color on chart.nitrate matched 100 high 20 low rang..ppm i guess.nitrite didnt even turn the test tube a color...clear as when i put water in it.so does this mean my water is good to use in my tank?
 
T

tizzo

Guest
No...actually, it means nothing. Tap will have a low Ph, but salt will correct that. Salt will fix calcium, alk, iodine and a few other problems with rgular water.
The reason you do not wanna use tap, other than the nitrate reading, cause that in itself is bad, but another reason is that we fear tap water because of things we DON'T test for. For example if your tap is 0 trates, 0 ammonia, etc... you still haven't tested for copper, iron, sulfer and a million other elements that may be in your water.
Home Depot sells an under the sink RO unit thats only 120 bucks.
 
aredmon

aredmon

Member
I get water at my car wash. They have a RO unit and sell it for .35 a gal. Also something in tap promotes algae blooms.
 
pfitz44

pfitz44

Active Member
Originally Posted by aredmon
I get water at my car wash. They have a RO unit and sell it for .35 a gal. Also something in tap promotes algae blooms.
phosphates
 
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