starting my cube
- Thread starter ka3pit
- Start date
travelerjp98
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by ka3pit http:///t/387928/starting-my-cube#post_3417271
Ok I put in tap water cause that's how we did it back in the day.I go down to get salt and the guy says I need ro water and not tap. Anyone got any info on this or should I drain it and get ro water?
Welcome to the site! I would re-do it and get RO water, but that's just me... I guess it's just better that way. Hey, I filled my tank up with tap.
Originally Posted by ka3pit http:///t/387928/starting-my-cube#post_3417271
Ok I put in tap water cause that's how we did it back in the day.I go down to get salt and the guy says I need ro water and not tap. Anyone got any info on this or should I drain it and get ro water?
Welcome to the site! I would re-do it and get RO water, but that's just me... I guess it's just better that way. Hey, I filled my tank up with tap.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
I've started a little over half my tanks with tap water. Use a TDS test to see what it is. If you don't have that, you can use a freshwater nitrate test kit to see where it stands. I believe now that it's not so much the excess nitrates and phosphates in the tap water as all of the extra heavy metals, including copper. Copper, in high enough doses, can kill corals and other invertebrates. In the part of the country that I'm from, most of the tap water in peoples houses come from PVC, PEX, Quest or CPVC water lines, so there is a very low risk of copper. If you use tap, I recommend letting the tap water run out of your water hose for a full 5 minutes before putting any in your tank. This sort of flushes away some of the heavy metals that may have been leached into the water while under pressure from your pipes.
For small tanks under 55g, I would just recommend going to the LFS and buying some saltwater in the salinity that you desire to start your tank. Some LFS have only one salinity, while some nicer LFS have saltwater for fish tanks, and saltwater for reef tanks. Pick what you're going to do and go from there. If you are going to mix your own saltwater, buy RO water, put it all in the tank WITHOUT SAND OR ROCK, add your salt, mix it for 24 hours with a high flow powerhead until completely dissolved, then measure the salinity with a hydrometer OR better yet a refractometer.
I HIGHLY suggest to you that you read the 101 tips thread at the top of the New Hobbyist forum and glance at all of the other threads as well. It will save you time, money, and headache to say the least. Also, buy a good saltwater book to read. The general consensus says to start out with "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Bob Fenner. I highly recommend you start reading and getting aquainted with it before beginning this (hopefully) live long passion and obsession. There is a lot of good information on this site and a lot of helpful people so stick around!
For small tanks under 55g, I would just recommend going to the LFS and buying some saltwater in the salinity that you desire to start your tank. Some LFS have only one salinity, while some nicer LFS have saltwater for fish tanks, and saltwater for reef tanks. Pick what you're going to do and go from there. If you are going to mix your own saltwater, buy RO water, put it all in the tank WITHOUT SAND OR ROCK, add your salt, mix it for 24 hours with a high flow powerhead until completely dissolved, then measure the salinity with a hydrometer OR better yet a refractometer.
I HIGHLY suggest to you that you read the 101 tips thread at the top of the New Hobbyist forum and glance at all of the other threads as well. It will save you time, money, and headache to say the least. Also, buy a good saltwater book to read. The general consensus says to start out with "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Bob Fenner. I highly recommend you start reading and getting aquainted with it before beginning this (hopefully) live long passion and obsession. There is a lot of good information on this site and a lot of helpful people so stick around!
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Oh, also, if you do start your aquarium with tap water, be sure you either let it sit 24 hours with a powerhead running in it before you add salt, so that the chlorine/chloramines can dissipate. Either that, or add some Prime or other dechlorinator and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour before adding salt.
Just know that if you do use tap water, your tank will go through a prolonged algae period when your tank is just started. Algae will be feeding off of the nitrates and phosphates and will have to be removed through proper husbandry practices - mainly water changes and maintaining a diverse clean up crew, and RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. There is more than one way to skin a cat.
Just know that if you do use tap water, your tank will go through a prolonged algae period when your tank is just started. Algae will be feeding off of the nitrates and phosphates and will have to be removed through proper husbandry practices - mainly water changes and maintaining a diverse clean up crew, and RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. There is more than one way to skin a cat.
kiefers
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/387928/starting-my-cube#post_3417305
Oh, also, if you do start your aquarium with tap water, be sure you either let it sit 24 hours with a powerhead running in it before you add salt, so that the chlorine/chloramines can dissipate. Either that, or add some Prime or other dechlorinator and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour before adding salt.
Just know that if you do use tap water, your tank will go through a prolonged algae period when your tank is just started. Algae will be feeding off of the nitrates and phosphates and will have to be removed through proper husbandry practices - mainly water changes and maintaining a diverse clean up crew, and RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. There is more than one way to skin a cat.
here kitty kitty kitty..............(hey? What happen to the Marley avitar????)
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/387928/starting-my-cube#post_3417305
Oh, also, if you do start your aquarium with tap water, be sure you either let it sit 24 hours with a powerhead running in it before you add salt, so that the chlorine/chloramines can dissipate. Either that, or add some Prime or other dechlorinator and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour before adding salt.
Just know that if you do use tap water, your tank will go through a prolonged algae period when your tank is just started. Algae will be feeding off of the nitrates and phosphates and will have to be removed through proper husbandry practices - mainly water changes and maintaining a diverse clean up crew, and RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. There is more than one way to skin a cat.
here kitty kitty kitty..............(hey? What happen to the Marley avitar????)