Tap Water...water changes?

stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
Originally Posted by KrazyK
my ammonia is 0
nitrates 0
nitrites 0
water is crystal clear and everything in there is doing well for some time now ...
all that tells you is your biological filter is working great, doesn't tell you if harmful metals are present. I never heard of the stuff nor do I know if its good or not. I have heard treated tap water may be fine for a fish only tank but for a reef tank only RO or RO/DI water should be used. I'm lucky, my house already had a RO unit with seperate sink faucet and water softener for tap water (which tells me the water quality were I live is probably not good when people are installing these randomly).
 
diane4

diane4

Member
I, personally, would NEVER trust any water other than bottled spring or distilled water if you can't make up the ideal water, which is Reverse Osmosis water.
And even then, you have to remember to check your TDS level of the R/O water. Good water should be as close to zero as possible for Total Disolved Solids.
Most tap water is around 50. When I put in new cartridges, my TDS gets close to 10 ir so. Check your TDS. I use the combo meter by Milwaukee that measures PH and TDS.
Good luck.
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member

Originally Posted by KrazyK
my ammonia is 0
nitrates 0
nitrites 0
water is crystal clear and everything in there is doing well for some time now ...
So WHO told you such a thing from here?? I'm guessing nobody.
Those readings tell us NOTHING about the claim of "my water is puurrrrrrfect". I'm not going to argue so the last thing I'll say is Get a RO/DI unit and/or ALWAYS use purified water... good luck.
 
forcrz6

forcrz6

Member
Reefnut My question is what about filtered water? I know that I use a britta water filter for the Tap and add the chem just incast to make the tap water safe for the fish But do you think that would work or would you have a diffrent suggestion?
 
jonny bolt

jonny bolt

Member
I dont think minerals will go away if you leave tap water over night lol.
But, I use tap water all the time. I mix 15 gallons at a time, with the right amounts of Start Right, AmQuel, and SeaChem Marine buffer. It sits overnight, properly heated, with an air stone and bubble wand. I have never had a single problem with any spikes, or algea problems. Along with fish, I have various 'shrooms, a Hermit Crab, and Turbo Snails, all of which thrive. Granted, not everyones municipal water supply is the same. I think I happen to live in a town where the water quality is exceptional.
I also cycled my tank properly for 4 weeks, but I also used Bacter-Vital throughout that time frame, and for about 2 months after, and I attribute this to alot of my success. My best friend has also done 3 tanks in 2 years the same way, and only lost 1 fish so far (a Hawkfish that came already stressed from the LFS). Not a bad record.
Atleast treat your water properly, and care for it, and it will heal itself.
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
Originally Posted by forcrz6
Reefnut My question is what about filtered water? I know that I use a britta water filter for the Tap and add the chem just incast to make the tap water safe for the fish But do you think that would work or would you have a diffrent suggestion?
The britta water filters are just activated carbon and maybe a sediment filter. RO/DI water or distilled water is much better.
Think of it this way... adding chemicals to get rid of chemicals can't be the best way to go. Fact is, your tap water MAY be clean enough to where you will not have any problems (only massive testing could tell you this) but chances are there is something in your tap that you do not want in your tank.
Water and the water's chemistry is one of the most important things in maintaining a healthy tank... I don't know about anyone else but I would like my reef to live for as long as I do.
 
forcrz6

forcrz6

Member
That makes sense. Thank you for your input. But how does an ro Unit work The way that i understand it is it makes water from the water vapor in the AIR is this correct?
 
ktsdad

ktsdad

Member
Originally Posted by forcrz6
That makes sense. Thank you for your input. But how does an ro Unit work The way that i understand it is it makes water from the water vapor in the AIR is this correct?
You are thinking about distilled water, here is a quote
"Distilled water is water that has been boiled and then recondensed (that is, the water vapor is turned back into liquid water on a cold surface)."
A RO/DI unit uses various different mechanical methods to make good water, depending on how many stages your unit has.
My unit is a 4 stage
1. .5 micron filter (to get the big chunks)
2. Carbon filter
3. RO membrane (takes out the remaining TDS)
4. DI cartridge (ion exchange resins which remove the last traces of contaminants from the RO product water)
 
roadrunner

roadrunner

Member
WOW my thread got way out of control...anyway...i got my RO water today and tomorrow im going to go out and by a new bg of salt...soon enough i'll begin doing water changes again...
...question though...
...if i haven't done a water change for over 6 months...should i just top off with newly made salt water until the desired salinity is reached then i can do full water changes or should i just beginning doing water changes?
...im affraid i might shock everything in the tank...is this possible?
...Thanks!
 
ktsdad

ktsdad

Member
You need to check the salinty of the water in the tank first.
That will tell you if you use saltwater or freshwater for the top off.
Make sure you let your newly mixed saltwater mix for at least 12 hours before you put any of it into your tank! Put RO water in bucket with a power head and heater (if needed) then slowly add your salt mix. Let this mix for at least 12 hours or longer. Freshly mixed saltwater can be toxic to your tank!
I would start by doing 10% water changes weekly, testing your parameters before each water change. Some will say that is to much, but that is how I would get it back up to snuff!
Good luck!
 
roadrunner

roadrunner

Member
OK! well i understand how to do the water change b/c at one point i was doing them...i have a thing that will take the water out of my tank and in my basement i have a rubbermaid container (22gal) that im going to fill with 20 gals of RO water and at the salt (this might be about a months worth of water changes) 26 gal tank...in the rubbermaid container i have a powerhead and a heater...i'm going to let the water and salt mix for 24hrs...
...my salinity right now is... 1.020 ...were do i need to go from here without shocking and killing my friends!
 
ktsdad

ktsdad

Member
I shoot for 1.025.
Make sure you do it slooooowly so as not to shock your buddies!
You should be able to bring it up with your water changes, mix your new saltwater to 1.025.
10% weekly changes should bring it up slowly enough.
 
jonny bolt

jonny bolt

Member
If you top your tank off sooner, you wont have to worry about mixing new saltwater. If mine goes down 1/2" to 1", I top it off with treated water. I only mix up batches of saltwater for water changes.
Easiest way to answer your question is to mix-up whatever you are taking out. I keep my salinity around 1.024/1.025, but I have invertebrates. You're mixin' up 20 gallons?......1/2 cup of salt for every gallon, then test the specific gravity.
 
roadrunner

roadrunner

Member
OK so then once a week i should change 3 gallons of water...in between when i have water evaporation, should i top off with RO water or should i use saltwater since i need to raise my salt level .005 to 1.025?
 
ktsdad

ktsdad

Member
Usually you would always "top off" with RO water since salt doesn't evaporatel.
I would stick to this method if it was me.
Top off with RO water and do your 3 gallon changes weekly and your salinity should be good in a few weeks without shocking your critters.
Good Luck
 
ktsdad

ktsdad

Member
Your welcome, glad to be able to help!
Keep us posted of your tank's status and include pictures if you can!
 
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