Chicago water quality

[Grebex11]

Hey guys,

Question for those of you who live in Chicago. I am in Wicker Park, for the record. I've had a reef in the Chicago neighborhoods for about 3 years. I've always used tap water while using Prime and haven't had any issues. Curious, has anyone else had a similar experience? What do you think of Chicago tap? Is RO necessary?

I moved and am starting a tank from scratch so looking for help before I start cycling again. Thanks!

 

[chitown tom]

I always recommend RO water.
Not worth fighting nutrients in the water.

For the record I live in Des Plaines and my water before RODI is about 10-15 TDS so it is pretty clean already.

 

[Tank2379]

Cut out adding prime and just use RO water, your tank will thank you in the long run. I took a reading from my tap the other day with my TDS meter it read 150ppm of TDS not bad but still lots if nasty stuff in that water.

 

[ali1]

Hey guys,

Question for those of you who live in Chicago. I am in Wicker Park, for the record. I've had a reef in the Chicago neighborhoods for about 3 years. I've always used tap water while using Prime and haven't had any issues. Curious, has anyone else had a similar experience? What do you think of Chicago tap? Is RO necessary?

I moved and am starting a tank from scratch so looking for help before I start cycling again. Thanks!

Similar experience. Never used my rodi in Chicago.

 

[Grebex11]

Thanks everyone!

 

[fishguy306]

Slightly different perspective for me, I was using Chicago water on my FW tanks after running through sediment filters and carbon filters to remove chlorine, I'm positive it resulted in the death of my FW rays.

I suspect either extra chemicals were dosed this spring to combat all the rains or pesticides were in the water, either way I lost $5k worth of fish in the matter of a month when all my parameters were showing the same. If I had a reef I 100% would use RO, not worth the risk in my mind.

 

[ostrow]

There are many ways to skin this cat. If you were FO or FOWLR maybe. But a reef I imagine you will be dealing with all sorts of nutrient and algae issues and bad headaches.

That said, people have done it.

 

[Grebex11]

Slightly different perspective for me, I was using Chicago water on my FW tanks after running through sediment filters and carbon filters to remove chlorine, I'm positive it resulted in the death of my FW rays.

I suspect either extra chemicals were dosed this spring to combat all the rains or pesticides were in the water, either way I lost $5k worth of fish in the matter of a month when all my parameters were showing the same. If I had a reef I 100% would use RO, not worth the risk in my mind.

Interesting that you say that. My reef looked great for a couple years then before I moved it started going downhill. All the parameters I tested looked perfect. It was around the same time you lost your fish...

 

[fishguy306]

There were several fw ray keepers that lost rays and a few more that had theirs go off feeding for days or weeks. Fortunately most people faired better than mine did. Regardless nearly all were on Chicago water supplies. I regret not sending water samples to be tested. I've still got the rays in my freezer, I am still thinking about having them tested.

Regardless I'm running a whole lot more carbon on my system now.

 

[Fish_wiz2]

Always test your water if you use tap! Granted on my reefs I used RO/DI but on my koi ponds, I use tap. One year a few years back the city switched back and fourth between chlorine and chloramines and it shocked my pond. I think they were purging the lines or something. I always have a chlorine and chloramines kit on hand since then.