Tap water x RO Water

[Fernando Parra]

Hello everyone,

I have a 210 Gallon, my RO filter is not big enough for this size of tank, I would spend several days and a huge amount of water , I am thinking to fill the tank using tap water + conditioner, after that add the salt.

Is it possible or not? Do you guys have any experience doing that?

Thank you,
Fernando Parra

 

[jay0705]

Yes you can do it. Just use r o for water changes

 

[beaslbob]

yes you can and I highly recommend you not use any water conditioner especially dechlors and ammonia locks. In the case of ammonia, the locked ammonia still tests positive for ammonia in most test kits so there is a temptation to keep adding more and more. They also lock oxygen so fish can actually suffocate when the initial dose was all that was needed.

Additionally by using macro algae, the water is conditioned, balanced and stabilized much better than on chemical treatment. For instance macro algae actually filters out copper.

Then after the tank is started, as stated above use ro (/di) for top offs. that will prevent future additions of nasties like copper.


My .02

 

[2quills]

I 3'rd what these other dudes said.

 

[Jesterrace]

I agree that the additives would be junk. Didn't know you could use tap water to start though. Learn something new everyday

 

[jay0705]

When u get into big tanks most people don't have r o systems terribly big so it would take for ever lol

 

[geridoc]

If you do use tap water expect to see an outbreak of diatoms soon. As water conditions improve they will go away, so don't worry.