Just wondering if anyone out there is having success with using tap water treated with amquel as their top off and water changes. Does tap water lead to uncontrollable algae outbreaks, or can one get away with using tap for a fowlr tank set up (100 gal with a protein skimmer). TIA.
Fowlr Tank
- Thread starter sps1-2-b
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Monkeyfish
Active member
Depends on the quality of your tap water. Check it for copper, phosphates and nitrates and then you'll have your answer.
TheSaltwaterGuy
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12766171#post12766171 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by prime311
For as much as we invest into our fish tanks, the 100 bucks or so for an ro/di seems like a small price to pay to keep it clean and bad chemical free
Have to agree.
kirkaz
Jade
I use tap water treated with prime or amquel, and always have. I have some algae but wouldn't consider it an issue. I am also about to increase the flow in my tank by about 4,000 gallons per hour with a few powerheads which will help....I do age my water in a bucket with a powerhead for about a week.
FYI, Bob Fenner (noted author) considers treated tap water to be fine in his book (page 95) and I quote "There is an unfortunate trend these days to blame our water source...." Who am I to argue with Bob.
FYI, Bob Fenner (noted author) considers treated tap water to be fine in his book (page 95) and I quote "There is an unfortunate trend these days to blame our water source...." Who am I to argue with Bob.
limitdown
New member
My main reason for ditching RO/DI is the amount of time required and space needed. It literally takes 1/2 a day (at 100gpd) and 2x25gallon drums to make 50gallons of water for my 240g system. I still filter my water with a 1micron PP pad followed by 2x1micron KXMatrikx +1 carbon blocks. I've found this combination to be quite efficient in removing a lot of the nasties found in tap water. I am unable to detect any nitrates in my incoming tap water so that's not an issue for me. However, if your incoming line has high levels, then you should seriously consider going RO/DI.
My RO system now only creates water for drinking and cooking. I've pulled out the DI portion as I keep reading conflicting reports about human consumption of DI water....
My RO system now only creates water for drinking and cooking. I've pulled out the DI portion as I keep reading conflicting reports about human consumption of DI water....
Yes, I agree I also use Tap water. At first I was using Ro/di water as top off. But when I went on a trip, my sister took care of my tank and use tap water and prime as a top off.
And the tank and water was fine when i came back. I never went back to Ro/di water after that for top off.
And the tank and water was fine when i came back. I never went back to Ro/di water after that for top off.
I dunno, I'm distrutful of my city water source. Even if my water was nitrate/phos/copper free now, who knows they might change it or as an example all the flooding in the midwest lately has overflowed the sewer systems and could have an effect on the water supplies. So even if my tap was fine I would consider the ro/di a relatively inexpensive peace of mind.
