Originally Posted by
Saltman23
http:///forum/post/2964335
Well, i currently have 2 saltwater tanks that are running on water from jewel. I'm going to be setting up a FO system and i want to try to use tap. What are some of the minerals and such that i should be looking for in the water and what should they be at? The water comes from lake michigan if that helps. thanks.
You can get a report from your water company that will list lots of stuff in your water. I have a good friend who has successfully kept a lot of fish in Lake Mich water for years. (He's not far from Green Bay, where they play REAL football.) I'd test for silicates & phosphates; easy to remove, but cause diatom & algae problems. Also test nitrates, not a big deal in FO systems, but can hurt inverts. Even though moderate nitrates won't hurt fish, you should know your base line. I'd also use a carbon based product like Boyd's Chemi-Pure that removes heavy metals; and really keeps water clear. There will be lots of folks who will insist on RO/DI water and I respect that opinion; but I agree with Bob Fenner, it isn't always necessary---it depends on your source water.
