Soccernut5824
New member
i cant afford an RODI unit right now but should be able to in a few months. would it be okay if i used my tap water for the first few months while my tank is cycling and for the very first few fish additions.
Rodi
- Thread starter Soccernut5824
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Soccernut5824
New member
anyone
redfishblewfish
Member
What is the source of you tap water? And what is the TDS? With this hobby, I have found it best never to say that you can’t do something. You will always find someone who then tells of the success story of doing that “something” for many many years.
That being said, my experience tells me that if you like hair algae, diatoms and an every-increasing TDS from evaporative make-up water, and, not to mention the plague and pestilence, than tap water is the way to go. If it were me, and the cash was that low, I’d be buying my water at the LFS until I was able to afford the RO/DI unit.
That being said, my experience tells me that if you like hair algae, diatoms and an every-increasing TDS from evaporative make-up water, and, not to mention the plague and pestilence, than tap water is the way to go. If it were me, and the cash was that low, I’d be buying my water at the LFS until I was able to afford the RO/DI unit.
aquaman67
Active member
You'd be better off waiting until you start with RO/DI IMO.
If your tap water has Phosphate (some water depts add it for corrosion control) you will be starting off on the wrong foot and may never recover. Your rock may absorb the Phosphate and it will leach back into your water after you switch to RO/DI.
If your tap water has Phosphate (some water depts add it for corrosion control) you will be starting off on the wrong foot and may never recover. Your rock may absorb the Phosphate and it will leach back into your water after you switch to RO/DI.
Buckeye Hydro
.Registered Member
Agreed.
No one on this board is going to know anything about your tap water quality, so take everything you hear with a grain of salt.
Best to wait.
Russ
At the very least, if you use tap water, let it run for a while before collecting it to avoid copper from your own pipes.
gmate
MASC Member
It is not good. Purchase RO/DI water from a local fish store. It's going to be costly, but cheaper upfront than an RO unit (in the long run, the unit is cheaper).
You'll regret not buying one in the long run. I'd recommend waiting to get into the hobby until you can procure all necessary equipment.
Best of luck.
You'll regret not buying one in the long run. I'd recommend waiting to get into the hobby until you can procure all necessary equipment.
Best of luck.
Ron Reefman
Active member
Or you can buy distilled water at your grocery store. I did this for 6 months when I started my tank. Buying 25 gallons the first time to fill a 30g tank was kind of strange, but it works. Don't use tap water. If you have a local club, see if a member will give you a deal on RO water. I've done it for a couple people in our club.
Soccernut5824
New member
u guys were right if it needs to be done a way will be found i picked up a used one with extra filters off clist for 50 bucks i now have a tank full of 0 tds
That's lucky for you. But it should not be read to imply all folks can do that because tap water varies tremendously, even between you and your next door neighbor since one of the concerns, copper, comes from your own pipes.
