Tap Water in SF

[rgonzalez]

Has anyone used tap water (with Prime of course) to start up their aquarium here in the city? The guys at (won't mention store) XXX told me that it wouldn't be a problem to start the saltwater tank with tap water as long as I used prime and RO/DI water for water changes.

Obviously I've added the water. It's only been a few weeks, so I guess I could technically still do a massive water change.

 

[psidriven]

I remember SF water being very clean and very low TDS. So the store's suggestion should be accurate for most reefers, though hardcore ones might just want TDS as low as possible for their own sake. Only issue is that tap water make up can flucuate due to weather conditions, so have a RO/DI helps maintain consistency.

 

[seminolecpa]

Also depends on what you are trying to keep in said tank.

 

[DurTBear]

When I first started my tank a few years ago, I did so with tap water and dripped in some stuff (can't remember what it was called) to get rid of chlorines/chloramines. My tank seemed to be ok. But if I were to start a new tank, I would probably go with RO/DI water to be safe. That being said, I just tested my tap water here in SF and it read 30ppm on my TDS meter which is relatively low.

 

[DetectiveTofu]

Been using tap for years, no problems with SPS, LPS, or anything.

 

[discus510]

not 100% sure about SF water but water in oakland coming out of tap tds is 20. i used tap water when i first filled tank. algae was crazy. than started to do water change every week with ro/di water and everythin is great. water is clear too now. of course i use purigen instead of carbon

 

[BenR7132]

You guys are lucky. I test out our water in Concord between 300-400 ppm.

 

[chem-e]

I have a friend that uses only SF tap water as well for his tank, which contains mainly SPS and it's doing great. As for myself, I've used tap as well, but only when my RO/DI needed replacement. I didn't have any problems either with the tap water.

 

[BAReefer]

I started out my tank with tap water only with no prime. Phosphate was very high then, now phosphate is getting close to normal.

 

[Dionae]

I've been using SF tap water for over 8 years now and have not had any problems with my SPS tank. I do treat with Amquel to remove chlorine and chloramine from the water. The trick is to add the water conditioner and salt, stir, then let the water sit in the bucket for a couple of days. Most of the contaminants will flocculate and settle out of solution at the bottom of the bucket. I then siphon the water into my sump and leave the residual contaminants undisturbed at the bottom of the bucket.

 

[Psionicdragon]

what....my city's water is 130ppm

 

[flying_dutchman]

Where in SF are ya?

 

[patrickb]

I've been using SF tap water with Prime for 3 years and my SPS, LPS, and softies are doing awesome.

 

[DetectiveTofu]

FWIW, I am in the sunset.
What may also play a factor in this is also the plumbing in your home; I'd imagine the older the plumbing and what not is, the more metals they may leech into the water traveling through them. Not 100% though; though it definitely helps that the tap water being delivered to our homes is of pretty good quality.

 

[ALEX007]

You guys are lucky my tap water in SJ sucks it is 250-300

 

[scuba71]

Sure does. In South San Jose I am getting 300-500. Fluctuates like crazy. It all depends where the city gets the water from. What I was told is that the mountain water is the cleanest, then the ground water, then the surface water.

Here is the San Jose source map:
http://www.sjwater.com/quality/map.jsp

Here is another cool site that tells you where the water comes from for the entire state. Just pick the city on the right hand side.
http://www.water-ed.org/watersources/region.asp?rid=6

You guys are lucky my tap water in SJ sucks it is 250-300

 

[sfboarders]

I'm in SSF. The past couple batches of water were around 30 but I've seen it as high as 215 in the past.

 

[gketell]

Well, let's see. I live in Pleasanton where the water absolutely sucks. AFTER RO my water comes out just slightly dirtier than SF tap water. And we use RO water all the time with no problems.

GK

Has anyone used tap water (with Prime of course) to start up their aquarium here in the city? The guys at (won't mention store) XXX told me that it wouldn't be a problem to start the saltwater tank with tap water as long as I used prime and RO/DI water for water changes.

Obviously I've added the water. It's only been a few weeks, so I guess I could technically still do a massive water change.

 

[RonMidtownStomp]

The best argument I've heard is this -- you don't know what they found in the water that day at the treatment plant and what they had to hit it with to clean it up. I wouldn't risk my livestock to tap water.

 

[Misterchinn]

I've been using SF tap for freshwater and fish only tanks for years with no problems (except for diatom blooms at start up). I'm starting a reef tank for the first time and did exactly what you're talking about tap to start, cycled, then use RO/DI for changes and top offs. No problems yet. Plus for drinking you can't beat it!

When I was at school in Davis that water was like liquid stone.