Safe Water

[pavalons]

I have read and searched on the subject of water purity and the majority seem to like a RO/DI unit or even distilled water.
Based on your experience, do the water treatment chemicals (e.g. AquaSafe) work as advertised with tap water? The various brands say they neutralize chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals. I would rather spend my $150 on some LR than an RO/DI system right now!
Thanks
Paul

 

[karajay]

Well worth it to buy RO water (if you don't have a system) rather than use tap. Cost per gallon is minimal (.30-.50)
No matter what you ADD to tap water, the bad elements are still there and will continue to accumulate. The idea is to REMOVE chlorine, chloromine, heavy metals and whatever else is present in tap, not try to mask it.

 

[kreach]

I agree. Check with your LFS... many of them will sell RO water (and sometimes premixed saltwater) by the gallon. All you have to invest in is a few 5 gallon jugs (which can be gotten at Walmart in the camping section). In the long run, it's cheaper to have an RO machine, but you can buy water in the meantime.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by pavalons
I have read and searched on the subject of water purity and the majority seem to like a RO/DI unit or even distilled water.
Based on your experience, do the water treatment chemicals (e.g. AquaSafe) work as advertised with tap water? The various brands say they neutralize chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals. I would rather spend my $150 on some LR than an RO/DI system right now!
Thanks
Paul
I have used straight tap water in fresh and salt tanks since the late 70's in half a dozen cities. I have never stressed a fish in anyway by using straight tap water. The treatment chemicals may or may not do exactly what they say the do. The point is that they are totally unecessary. The action of your tank especially plant action will provide all the water conditioning needed. It is better to buy a larger system or more plants then to spend money on water conditiong chemicals or equipment. Or even go on a vacation and enjoy yourself.

 

[broomer5]

Paul,
It's almost impossible to accurately give advise and answer this question truthfully, unless we all have our tapwater tested.
Any other answer - without knowing the chemical make up of your individual tapwater conditions ... would be speculation.
You may very well be able to pull it off and have a successful marine tank, using your tapwater, where as other folks in other parts of the country could not.
Using RO or RO/DI freshwater is generally favored in the hobby, because it reduces or eliminates some of the unknowns.
Unknowns being the freshwater's chemical state.
Using RO, RO/DI, DI or distilled water does not insure success, just as using tapwater does not always lead to failure.
Naturally .... how each of us define success or failure differs as well.
Fact is .... it just all depends on the tapwater.

 

[jrpage]

I agree with Broomer. Every city and municipal is going to be different and even LFS's can have problems with their water. at one time my guy actually worked for a pet store that went nuts trying to figure what was wrong with their water before tracing it back to a problem with the city water.
HTH

 

[javatech]

Originally posted by beaslbob
The action of your tank especially plant action will provide all the water conditioning needed. It is better to buy a larger system or more plants then to spend money on water conditiong chemicals or equipment. Or even go on a vacation and enjoy yourself.
Ok try that in Love Canal NY. :scared: