RO/Di water FOWLR tank

[Kurt03]

How bad is it going to hurt me starting a FOWLR tank using normal tap water? I will test the water when i get home but i think the last time i tested it which was a long time ago was around 20ppm. I have most of my equipment and running low on cash i would rather not get the RO/DI if i can help it. From what i have understood a fish only tank isnt as critical to keep nitrates around 0, although i would like it there. I will have a sump with a refuge and plan to have plenty of chaeto in there to eat some nitrates. Will it be worth it for me to dig deep deep into my pockets and get the RO/DI from the start? Tank is a 55 and the sump im making out of a 30gal tank.
Thanks

 

[angelsj247]

i used tap water with my tank.. and it is doing great..

 

[lvpd186]

most people will tell you that you might have problems later on using tap water (alge blooms and such), but I have read that if you properly age your tap water it will work just fine, and a FOWLR will be more forgiving. Before you decide you might want to take your tap water and have it tested for other chemicals and metals besides nitrates.

 

[MCary]

Personally, I think the RO system is the greatest thing to hit the fishkeeping hobby since.....the last good thing. I wouldn't keep fresh or salt water fish without one anymore. For the single little investment of only $125 you can eliminate a huge factor in algae control, no more toxins, no excess chemicals. When someone asks if you have something in your water you will know. Because the only thing in there was what you put in. No surprises. With only 20 ppm coming out of your tap, the membranes would last a long time. You can probably get by. People been doing it for years without RO. Just remember for later, the single best investment in reefkeeping.

 

[Kurt03]

ok if i start with tap water and then if i decide to get more into reef with corals and everything get a ro/di and start using that will my water be ok after many water changes? Or will it take so long that i would be better off draining it all and starting over

 

[mdisalvo55]

I started my FOWLR with tap water and it's a nice tank. However, I do have to wipe off the glass very often because algae quickly grows over it...Also, I am now seeing some hair algae issues as a result. If I were you, I would just try to see if you're fine without it, becuase a lot of people seem to be. Maybe later when you get more money you can buy one.

 

[tonyscoots84]

just as a rec. i started my 29 gallon a while back with tap it was a big mistake... algae (brown, green, and cyano) any algae u can think about... this was not due to cycling was due to water quality comming out of the tap.... do yourself a favor a big one and go into your pocket and get yourself a aquasafe rodi filter off of ebay for 149.99. that and my big skimmer were the best investments i have made.... you can also use the ro part of ur filter for drinking water...

 

[Recife]

I think you can do without one, but as you can see the subject is controversial.
This is what I suggest: treat the tap water with one of those conditioners. Kent has a really good one called Ammonia detox. It will remove toxic metals too.

Buy a test kit for phosphates, iron, etc and test the conditioned water. You will see what I'm talking about. Ammonia detox does work well.

 

[TOURKID]

if your low on cash, like me... i just had this same question, tho ive been using tap water for 5 months, and just found out about r/o water.. call your local fish stores. mine sells it a dollar a gal. and for now its better for me to spend 6.00 a week, than a couple hundred bucks

btw.. i think tap water led me to having the nitrate problem im having now...

 

[Recife]

Again, Ammonia Detox will remove nitrates too.
For a FOWLR tank I think you don't need to invest in a RO/DI filter.

 

[Emmelemmo]

I ran my FOWLR tank for a year and a half before I got a RO/DI. I have had less bad algae in the tank and don't require quite so many water changes since I made the purchase, but had good sucess even before.

 

[BadOleRoss]

I set up both my 110 reef and 220 FOWLR tanks using regular tap water before recently going to RO/DI. I am in the process of redoing my 220 and plan on using tap water to start it off. There is just no way for me to store 220 gallons of RO/DI and I already have the fish for the tank so time is an issue.