A few start-up questions.. need advice

[mmm55645]

I am setting up a tank very soon and in the course of my planning I have read and heard many different opinions about what is best for doing water changes.

Can I use a water conditioner to treat well water for regular water changes instead of using an R/O filter?

I have heard that conditioners will work fine, while I have also heard that an R/O filter is the only way to ensure that my tank water is high enough quality.

I want to use a conditioner b/c it is cheaper and easier but I don't want to do so at the expense of water quality and the well being of my tank inhabitants.

Will I be maintain water parameters without using an RO filter(assuming regular maintance and appropriate stocking)?


I will greatly appreciate any advice

 

[barbra]

Just go with the RO and add a DI cartridge if you can afford to. While you can use plain tap water and a conditioner you may find that you end up with a whole host of troubles that can take up enough of your time and reduce your enjoyment of the tank to the point where the RO/DI unit will look like a bargain

 

[slowradio]

you can do whatever you want...it's your tank. just understand that by using anything other than ro/di water, you not only compromise the living conditions for your tank's inhabitants, you also put your investment at risk. i would hate to loose all the money that i spent on my tank over something as simple as skimping on water that goes for 25 cents a gallon.

jmho.

 

[marduc]

the water conditioner will only remove chlorine from the water, it will do nothing for the slew of other contaminants coming along for the ride, phosphates, nitrates, dissolved organic compounds, arsenic, lead, ect.

just using conditioned water is a recipe for an algea garden that will become an eyesore, a headache and a backbreaker for you.

edit: and to answer your question directly.. no matter how many water changes you do, if you are putting nutrients into your system with water changes (I would suspect most wells to have nitrates and phosphates simply due to fertilizer run off), it won't help a thing.

 

[Nashvegas1]

I would not reccomend using tap water and water conditioner especially when you can go to publix and get a 5 gallon bucket of RO/DI for 1.50. But, it depends on the quality of your local water too. Plenty of people around here use tap and have some of the best looking tanks I have ever seen.