The tap water debate goes on.....

[bmiller1234]

So, seeing how some have great success with using tap water started researching and here in Cranberry we get water from West view and they post their water test parameters online as public record as they should at the following:

http://s299630586.onlinehome.us/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=23

So Heres the list... Whats the Bad of this list aside from the 1ppm of nitrate and the chloramine that will condition out? I will say that I went down and did a TDS of my tap and its at 261 so my tap water should be pretty close to what this list is. I don't think I will give up my rodi very easily but its nice to have that option....

Calcium* 120 ppm Ca as CaCO3

Magnesium* 40 ppm Mg as CaCO3

Sodium* 45ppm as Na

P. Alkalinity 6 ppm P. Alk. as CaCO3

Total Alkalinity* 58 ppm Total Alk. as CaCO3

Chloride* 75 ppm as Cl

Sulfate 56 ppm as SO4

Nitrogen 1 ppm as Nitrate

Nitrogen <0.01 ppm as Nitrite

Total Iron 0.006 ppm as Fe

Total Manganese 0.018 ppm as Mn

Chloramine 0.2 - 1.6 ppm as NH2Cl

Total Hardness* 160 ppm as CaCO3

Total Hardness* 9.36 grains/gal as CaCO3

Fluoride1.0 ppm as F

Lead <0.001 ppm as Pb

Specific Conductance* 531 Micromhos/cm

pH 8.5 - 8.7

Turbidity 0.05 NTU

Color 0 APHA Units

Total Dissolved Solids* 262 ppm

Average Trihalomethanes (THM)for last four quarters*
0.017 ppm

Average Haloacetic Acids (HAA)for last four quarters*
0.007 ppm

Total Coliforms per 100 mL <1


* = will changeseasonally 07/30/10 WVWA

 

[Stray32]

Yikes, yeah that says it all. I would probably classify my experience with tap water as sustainable reef rather than success. Within a few weeks of switching to RO/DI, I noticed better color, less algae (even though it was never a problem before), and a happier reef overall. Tap water can definitely be used, but its certainly not recommended.

 

[Steven Pro]

It is what is not on that list that will be problematic. Many utilities in the area use 1 ppm of zinc orthophosphate as a rust inhibitor.

 

[Misled]

I also take for granted the readings are from the water at the plant. Is it possible for copper to leach from piping?? Why take the chance? We spend hundreds of dollars on equipment for our tanks. The cost of a RO/DI is minimal IMO.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Yes, a lot can happen between the water treatment plant and your tap. What is reported in the test is a snapshot of the water at the time the test was taken, the actual water content can vary wildly over the year.

There are many club members who keep healthy tanks with tap water, and many who have had disasterous results. As the others have indicated, an RO/DI system is minimal compared to the rest of the investment that your system represents.

I live in Greentree and our water is good, if not excellent. Several times over the last 5 years I have bypassed the RO/DI due to exhausted resin. Each time the health of the tank has suffered. When the RO/DI system is put back on place, the health of the tank has taken a noticeable change for the better. While my observations are no more than anecdotal, they are enough to convince me that I should be using the RO/DI.

 

[bmiller1234]

I fully agree. I don't see myself giving up using rodi. I do consider though when di is exhausted and TDS if its as bad as everyone claims. With the highest ppm in tap water being calcium I would assume that would be what's comng thru when TDS starts to climb.

Are their compounds that will bypass membrane that need di to remove?

 

[Misled]

Part of the problem is what's leftover isn't known without testing. Normally a TDS of 92 to 98%, (this depends on the rejection rate of the membrane), of what the TDS is at the from the tap is common at the end of the RO section. You can't tell what those TDS are. They can be anything.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

Honestly the thing that scares me the most is that you never know when and what they will be adding at different times. In the South Hills we had some kind of algae bloom (when the temps where in the 90's) in the water that made it taste like crap. They said the water was ok to drink but they would be "treating" the water to combat the algae. I would not take the chance that down the road they don't treat the water with something that could cause major problems or even a tank crash. Just my .02.

 

[bmiller1234]

Maybe they just added a big bottle of algae fix....

I don't see in the future ever putting tap water into tank. Too much variable. I could also see alot of rust/iron being in water from the time it makes it from water authority to the house.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

Maybe they just added a big bottle of algae fix....

lol then I am definitely not ever putting tap water in my tank. I almost crashed my tank with that stuff. I lost like a dozen frags.