question about water

[binns239]

was wondering if you can use tap water to start your cycle. or would that be bad

 

[meowzer]

You will get a lot of mixed answers on that one......My 225G was started with tap.....I didn't see any adverse reactions
My 29G was started with ro/di.....everything went fine
Have you had your tap tested????? I think that may help you decide too

 

[pirates]

Originally Posted by binns239
http:///forum/post/3276575
was wondering if you can use tap water to start your cycle. or would that be bad
ok some will tell you ro di i started my 55 gallon with tap and used api stress coat marine i had corals and fish and had no problem using tap you will have to test your water of copper, lead, and other test you do not what to put copper in your tank it can and will kill all your tank i got a ro/di because i have phos. i tested and it said .5ppm and could not get rid of the phos. so its up to you on the tap but test your water first for every thing there my be some thing in your water that could kill and if you get a ro/di test it to before using the water to be safe side

 

[binns239]

well i just filled my 125 with tap water there is nothing in the tank or the sump just salt and water it was fine for about a day and now it is really cloudy and there a white hard film on everything. it is running i dont want to put LR in cus i dont wanna kill it.

 

[acrylic51]

I've heard of running an initial leak test and testing the flow of the setup, but why honestly wouldn't you use RO/DI water for tank setup? The bad elements are there, so why start with so so water quality???? IMHO I would start the cycle off with RO/DI water.

 

[pirates]

Originally Posted by binns239
http:///forum/post/3276579
well i just filled my 125 with tap water there is nothing in the tank or the sump just salt and water it was fine for about a day and now it is really cloudy and there a white hard film on everything. it is running i dont want to put LR in cus i dont wanna kill it.
Have you tested your water then and now? do you have live sand? in the tank

 

[pirates]

does your tank look like this?

 

[binns239]

havent tested an no sand

 

[binns239]

yes pirates

 

[pirates]

Originally Posted by binns239
http:///forum/post/3276591
havent tested an no sand
I WOULD TEST THE WATER!!!!!!!!!! COULD BE BAD test for copper, ect. !!!!!!!!!!
just trying to help you do not whant to kill all your stuff before you start do you ? before you put fish live rock ect. test the water to be safe just the littlest thing can kill. A small temp change to fast salt level not right have you checked your salt level? these are some small things but big things in the tank

 

[pirates]

Originally Posted by binns239
http:///forum/post/3276592
yes pirates
ok that is my 90 gallon when i first set it up its from the sand and salt the salt can make it cloudy to give it a couple of days and go from there but test your water

 

[binns239]

i have ammonia, ph, nitrite, nitrate, what else should i need beside copper

 

[pirates]

Originally Posted by binns239
http:///forum/post/3276604
i have ammonia, ph, nitrite, nitrate, what else should i need beside copper
phos., kh and a Hydrometer

 

[xcali1985]

Originally Posted by Pirates
http:///forum/post/3276636
phos., kh and a Hydrometer
skip the hydrometer get a refractometer, youll thank me later

 

[gcgrad]

I have a question about water as well. For those of you that use RO water, do ya'll use some sort of RO filter system?

 

[btldreef]

The only way I would use tap water to start my system is if I knew what my tap water readings were. The last thing you want to do is introduce bad elements, especially copper into your system before you even get started.
If you have an LFS or WalMart near by, just by RO water, it's not that expensive. It will save you in the long run if you have bad tap water.
Originally Posted by Xcali1985
http:///forum/post/3276646
skip the hydrometer get a refractometer, youll thank me later
Couldn't agree with you more!

Originally Posted by gcgrad
http:///forum/post/3276657
I have a question about water as well. For those of you that use RO water, do ya'll use some sort of RO filter system?
yes, they sell RO systems and RO/DI systems.

 

[acrylic51]

Regardless of what your tap water tests out at I'd bet your readings wouldn't be anywhere as good as RO/DI. Even with an initial input reading of lets say 40 going into the RO/DI isn't bad.....with that said are't we all trying to have the end result entering our systems "0"?

 

[btldreef]

I agree ^
I don't think I would use tap unless the reading was <5 to be honest and even then, I just don't think I could personally bring myself to do it.
I really don't know why people attempt tap water. I know people have had success, but the risk just isn't worth it.

 

[acrylic51]

Originally Posted by gcgrad
http:///forum/post/3276657
I have a question about water as well. For those of you that use RO water, do ya'll use some sort of RO filter system?
AirWaterIce, SpectraPure, Kent, Filter Guys, check out their sites, good products and will save lots of headaches......

 

[binns239]

ok i tested for everything today only things im concerned about is the kh is 10 and phos is 1.5 everything else is normal