RO/DI for fresh water aquarium

[Foody]

I currently have a 10gal freshwater aquarium that houses an Angelfish, an Albino Long-Finned Pleco and a Blue Gourami. I know the status quo medium is tap water with conditioner. Is there any reason I couldn't/shouldn't use RO/DI for my freshies?

 

[colortrilogy]

You can. Just need to re-mineralized the water.

 

[Foody]

By mineralize do you mean salt?

 

[lhscouchmonster]

nope, dont just add salt.



If you use RODI water for the freshwater tank, there will be none of the minerals that you normally find in freshwater. they make products like Replenish that will add those minerals back in. The salt we use for reef tanks has more than salt, it contains all sorts minerals that are normally found in ocean water. Thats why RO/DI works fine, we add those minerals back in via our salt mixes.

I would just use tap water plus conditioner if i was you. I've been doing that for my planted tanks for years (well I also inject C02 and have a fertilizer program i follow but that's another topic for another day)

 

[tropills]

Only FW fish that benefits from RO is discus. And that's mainly for the PH aspect ..

 

[fishman1234]

I used to be very big into freshwater.....I had angels, discus, guppies, etc. You name it I had it....I used to have 20+ tanks going. With any discus, angels, or chiclids I always used ro/di. Mainly because I bred most of them. That was a cleaner water. Once in a while I would add black water extract to the angels and chiclids. I did it all the time with the discus. I have a freshwater cube going right now with german blue angels and plecos in it.....all I use is the ro/di and I have drift wood in there that I didn't boil to much so that there would be some tannins in the water. I think it gives it a more natual look abd the fish seem to like it.

So after my rant....with what you have...ro/di water would be fine unless its a planted tank as well. Then it should be boosted with more nutrients.