Tap Water
- Thread starter knoxville
- Start date
birdy
Active Member
I have never used tap water and don't recommend it, but I believe if you let tap sit in an opened container for 24hrs then the chlorine is gone, but all the other bad stuff is still in there.
As far as adding salt, if it is for top off, then you do not add salt if it is for a water change then you want to match the salinity of your water change water to the salinity in your tank. As well as temperature.
As far as adding salt, if it is for top off, then you do not add salt if it is for a water change then you want to match the salinity of your water change water to the salinity in your tank. As well as temperature.
jlem
Active Member
Originally posted by Birdy
. As well as temperature.
If it is a small water change (10% or so) then getting the make up water up to room temperature and adding it to the tank slowly ( over a couple minutes ) then you will be fine. If you have a fish only tank then tap water should be okay. Most salt mixes have heavy metal neutralizers to make tap water safe. If you can get a sample of your tap water tested by the water company then that would be the best thing to do.
tinydove
Member
I am new to this hobby myself but I learned a very important lesson from a man named "KIP" from this site.
Tap Water is a "NO_NO_NO NO _NO!!!!!! I started my tank over 3 monts ago and I used tap water that sat for 2 days (55g)
I went through the normal stages but could never get rid of the brown algea, UNTIL "KIP" answerd my post. He told me "NO!!" to tap water no mater how long it stands or what you put into it.
There are other opionions on this subject but if it were not for KIP, I would be back to watching the fish swim and corals at my LFS and not in my own living room.
He saved my tank by telling me not to use tap water and by the Gods he was sooo right.
Since I have been using RO/DI water my tank looks wonderful and there is no bad algae, I did not even get the green hair algae that is bad.
Just look at a tank with tap and then look at one with RO/DI water. You will know what I mean.
I am so happy with the advise this man gave. Thank you Kip and I will miss you.
Here is the proof in my tank. so PLEASE do youself and your fish and corals a favor, use RO/DI water.
Tap Water is a "NO_NO_NO NO _NO!!!!!! I started my tank over 3 monts ago and I used tap water that sat for 2 days (55g)
I went through the normal stages but could never get rid of the brown algea, UNTIL "KIP" answerd my post. He told me "NO!!" to tap water no mater how long it stands or what you put into it.
There are other opionions on this subject but if it were not for KIP, I would be back to watching the fish swim and corals at my LFS and not in my own living room.
He saved my tank by telling me not to use tap water and by the Gods he was sooo right.
Since I have been using RO/DI water my tank looks wonderful and there is no bad algae, I did not even get the green hair algae that is bad.
Just look at a tank with tap and then look at one with RO/DI water. You will know what I mean.
I am so happy with the advise this man gave. Thank you Kip and I will miss you.
Here is the proof in my tank. so PLEASE do youself and your fish and corals a favor, use RO/DI water.
jeepboy
Member
I don't use tap water, but if you use it be aware that letting it sit for 24hrs will allow the chlorine to escape, but if your water supply uses chloramine you will need to treat the water chemically to eliminate it. Most water conditioners take care of both chlorine and chloramine.
jgonier
Member
I don't think using tap water is all that bad in certain situations.
For instance where I live, the water quality is really good. Your water quality may be different. Some peoples water have large amounts of metals and other nice things in it, but my water lacks these things.
I have been using tap water in all my tanks for years without any troubles. No alge blooms or anything else like that.
It just depends on your own local water quality. Have your local water company supply you with a test read-out of what is all in your water (i.e. copper, zinc, chlorines, etc.), this will tell you if you should use it or switch to using RO/DI.
Hope that helps.
P.S. You will still need to treat it with a conditioner for chlorine and chloramines though. I use AmQuel by Kordon. Removes all that plus ammonia.
P.S.S. tinydove lives in New Jersey which is famous for it's green toxic haze coming from the city . I wouldn't use that water either. .
For instance where I live, the water quality is really good. Your water quality may be different. Some peoples water have large amounts of metals and other nice things in it, but my water lacks these things.
I have been using tap water in all my tanks for years without any troubles. No alge blooms or anything else like that.
It just depends on your own local water quality. Have your local water company supply you with a test read-out of what is all in your water (i.e. copper, zinc, chlorines, etc.), this will tell you if you should use it or switch to using RO/DI.
Hope that helps.
P.S. You will still need to treat it with a conditioner for chlorine and chloramines though. I use AmQuel by Kordon. Removes all that plus ammonia.
P.S.S. tinydove lives in New Jersey which is famous for it's green toxic haze coming from the city
. I wouldn't use that water either. .
jlem
Active Member
Originally posted by tinydove
Tap Water is a "NO_NO_NO NO _NO!!!!!! I started my tank over 3 monts ago and I used tap water that sat for 2 days (55g)
I went through the normal stages but could never get rid of the brown algea
Brown algae usually hangs around for a few months anyways and even with tap water the brown probably would have dissapeared anyways at about the same time. I do use RO/DI on my reef because it is cheap and I was on a well for a couple years. I have a frag tank though and use tap water since I am now on city water and it is really good stuff. You can't use a blanket statement about tap water because all tap water is different. If you want to use tap water then have it checked or see what the LFS uses. T%ap water is safe for human consumption so it will not kill your reef. It may cause some algae but algae is usually caused by improper lighting, overfeeding and bad water circulation and not caused by the use of tap water.
drkdweller
Member
IM probly going to get flamed for this.
I used tap water for 2 years on my tank. i have 38 differnt kinds of corals and they are doing great. huge. My lfs and ppl who have seen my tank are impressed by the way my tank is doing on tap water. Lots of them dont know why. but it works
I posted a pic of my tank in tank of the month check it out its on the last page.
Tap water is bad because of phosphates, and metals.
Ro units are good, but some of those dont remove choline, and differnt ones will remove different amounts of medals.
JGonier said it best it all depends on you citys water quality.
One more thing some older buildings have copper pipes. if your going to use tap water make sure your building dosent have copper pipes.
I used tap water for 2 years on my tank. i have 38 differnt kinds of corals and they are doing great. huge. My lfs and ppl who have seen my tank are impressed by the way my tank is doing on tap water. Lots of them dont know why. but it works
I posted a pic of my tank in tank of the month check it out its on the last page.
Tap water is bad because of phosphates, and metals.
Ro units are good, but some of those dont remove choline, and differnt ones will remove different amounts of medals.
JGonier said it best it all depends on you citys water quality.
One more thing some older buildings have copper pipes. if your going to use tap water make sure your building dosent have copper pipes.
drkdweller
Member
My water company sends out a break down of the water every month.
btw heres the page my tank is on. https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/98609/aquarium-of-the-month-win-a-free-75-package
btw heres the page my tank is on. https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/98609/aquarium-of-the-month-win-a-free-75-package
bang guy
Moderator
Originally posted by JGonier
For instance where I live, the water quality is really good. Your water quality may be different. Some peoples water have large amounts of metals and other nice things in it, but my water lacks these things.
Hi, I just took a peek at the water system reports for St. Paul.
The Copper content is 700ppb above the EPA guidelines as of 2002. This is a Copper level of 2.0ppm which is approximately 2,000 times higher than the level determined to be harmful for many marine organisms.
I just though you might want to know that.
Bang
bang guy
Moderator
Originally posted by beaslbob
Sure looks like an awesome tank. Even with leathal levels of copper as reported above.
So Bob, just what are the Copper levels in the tap water of Roanoke?
You insist marine plants remove copper from aquarium water, you say it over & over & over. Please prove this with some factual information before posting it again.
My experience & the research I have read indicate that copper is not remove in significant quantities.
My experience & the research I have read indicate that copper is very difficult to remove from marine aquariums once it has been introduced.
Please point me to research that contradicts this.
Thank you
Bang
bang guy
Moderator
Originally posted by beaslbob
Yes bang you got me again. had the wrong city. will edit
Well, that really wasn't the point I was inadequately trying to make. The Copper level in Roanoke may be just fine. I doubt it but it could be. The problem is that in many locations Copper is a severe problem for use in a reef aquarium. Many towns add copper to their reservoirs to kill excess algae and yet you still recommend using it!?