Whats wrong with tap water??
- Thread starter rutz15
- Start date
elitephoto
Member
tap water is very bad. its hard water, it has clorine, amonia,copper etc. thats all bad for the livestock and will really kick up some serious algae bloom. My LFS sells RO/DI water as well as fresh pre mixed salt water for the same price... .35 cents a gallon. I paid 8 bucks each and bought a few 5 gal jugs as well so I can always have new water laying around for top offs and water changes.
omgsaltwat
Member
Originally Posted by Rutz15
I was wondering what the problem was with tap water bc i went to wal-mart and RO water was 33 cents a gallon plus $1.30 for just the jug and i have a 55 gallon tank and that would be a lot of money.....so please tell me why tap water is bad to put in your tank?
Thanks
Rutz
jsut buy the 5gal jugs and then take them back to wal-mart and refill them, you only have to buy the jugs once. I have 4-5gal jugs. I only have to fill then maybe evey 2 weeks.
I was wondering what the problem was with tap water bc i went to wal-mart and RO water was 33 cents a gallon plus $1.30 for just the jug and i have a 55 gallon tank and that would be a lot of money.....so please tell me why tap water is bad to put in your tank?
Thanks
Rutz
jsut buy the 5gal jugs and then take them back to wal-mart and refill them, you only have to buy the jugs once. I have 4-5gal jugs. I only have to fill then maybe evey 2 weeks.
thenewfish
Member
By the fact you seem to be saying it would be a lot of money for a 55 gallon tank I am going to guess you are just setting up this tank and for that purpose Tap water should be ok. You are going to have to deal with all levels spiking and then going back down anyway so at the same time you can take care of the other impurities since there shouldn't be any fish in there at that time anway.
Then once the tank is established you can use the RO water for water changes (If you decide to do them) or to refill from evaporation.
Then once the tank is established you can use the RO water for water changes (If you decide to do them) or to refill from evaporation.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Not all tapwater is bad for fish. Most is, but not all. The best way to tell if tap water is bad is to test it. Test your tap water for nitrates, phosphates, silicates, and use a TDS meter on it to see how much totally dissolved solids are in it.
See if your LFS will give you some buckets. I know some places near me just give them away.
Keep in mind, this is not a cheap hobby. If you try to do things the cheap way and cut corners, you will not be able to keep a successful tank.
See if your LFS will give you some buckets. I know some places near me just give them away.
Keep in mind, this is not a cheap hobby. If you try to do things the cheap way and cut corners, you will not be able to keep a successful tank.
S
sinner's girl
Guest
when we started, we bought 55 1 gallon jugs from walmart to fill up the 55gl tank. I keep at least 15 around. I switch some out as they get old, I just replace old jugs with the jugs from the water we drink (we don't ever drink from the jug). Using 5 gallon jugs would be easier and take up less space, but I can't left that much out of my trunk and up the stairs, so I use 1 gallon jugs.
I get some funny looks or comments sometimes, but nothing more than when I go to buy 12 shrimp...
I get some funny looks or comments sometimes, but nothing more than when I go to buy 12 shrimp...
reef diver
Active Member
IF you have a well it will be ok, because that water is natural, but test anyway, you can also buythings like stress coat that neutralize heavymetals, and chlorine
S
sinner's girl
Guest
IF you have a well it will be ok, because that water is natural, but test anyway, you can also buythings like stress coat that neutralize heavymetals, and chlorine
NOT ALWAYS TRUE...well water that goes to more that a certain number of people IS TREATED! If it's on your personal land, then you would know, if it the well goes to the whole block or an area of people, chances are it's treated. Smell the water, does it smell like rotten eggs? If not, then it's treated.
(Dad's a water person, does water for a living.)
Have your tap or well water treated for everything, then you'll know if it's safe, but even so, what about things we can't test for?
NOT ALWAYS TRUE...well water that goes to more that a certain number of people IS TREATED! If it's on your personal land, then you would know, if it the well goes to the whole block or an area of people, chances are it's treated. Smell the water, does it smell like rotten eggs? If not, then it's treated.
(Dad's a water person, does water for a living.)
Have your tap or well water treated for everything, then you'll know if it's safe, but even so, what about things we can't test for?
