Switching to RO water.

[Brock Fluharty]

I have a 75 gallon mixed reef, and i'ts always been topped off with tap water, and was originially filled with tap water. I am concerned that the possiblity of chemicals in the water is killing my snails. I always get snails, and they seem to just die out. I get the large mexican turbo ones. Tank parameters are all in check, the temp is around 80*F. Would it help to start topping off with RO water? I am considering getting an RO/DI unit, but i'm a little short on cash right now. I'm just concerned that whatever chemicals from my tap water were in the tank are just building up, and I hope I don't have to empty the tank, and fill it with that much RO water...

Thanks,
Brock

 

[Mighty Dread]

I am almost in the same situation. Same tank size and everything. My RO/DI system is being shipped to me as we speak. I was tired of all the problems tap water creates.
As long as you were properly conditioning your water it should not have been toxic to any of your tank inhabitants. I have had my tank running for over six years and have always used conditioned tap water - and I never had any problems with the water killing anything. I would just keep testing the water and when you do get your RO/DI just use that for one 25 gallon or so water change and then keep using it for the top off. Everything should get back in balance soon. Test for heavy metals in the water and if you find some maybe you have a rock that is leaching out some sort of toxic material, becuase I doubt that the water is to blame.
Good luck.

 

[Brock Fluharty]

All I have is real live rock. I put a few pieces of the same live rock into a 20 gallon of all RO water, and I have a mexican turbo in that tank. He is doing great.