Water Changes?? All you experts?
- Thread starter bina770
- Start date
hyperfocal
Active member
No, RO/DI filtered water. Tapwater is full of all kinds of junk you don't want in your tank (silicates, chloramine, chlorine, nitrates, phosphates, and the list goes downhill from there).
Billybeau1
Premium Member
You make it yourself. You purchase an Ro/Di filter and run your water through it. This gets rid of all the nasties.
Initial purchase 150 to 200 bucks. Change filters a couple times a year.
End product, the best water you can provide.
Initial purchase 150 to 200 bucks. Change filters a couple times a year.
End product, the best water you can provide.
uscharalph
New member
I buy Ro for top-off and RO based salt for water changes from my LFS.
davidryder
Claris or Elliot?
I would test your tapwater first. You can pick up a TDS meter for $15 - I wouldn't be concerned with anything under 350ppm. Also test for nitrates and phospates. As long as nitrates are under 5ppm and phosphates are under 1 I don't believe it to be necessary to use RO/DI water.
If $200 is in your budget to get a quality RO/DI unit I would certainly suggest buying one - it definitely removes one of the variables when troubleshooting water/algae problems.
If $200 is in your budget to get a quality RO/DI unit I would certainly suggest buying one - it definitely removes one of the variables when troubleshooting water/algae problems.
Billybeau1
Premium Member
Wow, it was so important, you had to say it three times. :lol:
All kidding aside, forget the local lfs unless they can give you a good price like the Filterguys.
The Filterguys are a sponsor here and will not only sell you a quality product at a fair price, but guide you all along the way with your new equipment. Great customer service.
All kidding aside, forget the local lfs unless they can give you a good price like the Filterguys.
The Filterguys are a sponsor here and will not only sell you a quality product at a fair price, but guide you all along the way with your new equipment. Great customer service.
aquarius77
In Memoriam
I could not agree more, they are the best in the biz.
thejamesvolta
New member
@hyperfocal.... i like you avatar. i just beat Portal.
i purchase RO water from my local water vendor for top offs. a nice RO/DI unit is next on the list for a must have.
i purchase RO water from my local water vendor for top offs. a nice RO/DI unit is next on the list for a must have.
melev
Well-known member
A little birdie told me that the next issue of Reefkeeping Online will have an article about water changes.
driftin
New member
Very cool, that's a fun store to browse in. I ordered my tank through them, actually. City tap water leaves something to be desired, I really encourage you to go RODI. Also, Old Town is selling Rod's Food now - that stuff is awesome. If you haven't tried it, do! It makes my whole tank go crazy at feeding time.
Here's the Chicago forum, you should introduce yourself.
After using distilled water for years I switched to tap water about 5-6 months ago. I was always afraid to try it b/c of the horror stories. I bought a PUR filter and put in on my faucet so the water would be run through carbon first to get rid of chlorine and other things. I have not had one problem since switching. My tank was algae free before and it still is. Switching to tap water was the best thing I ever did. It has allowed me to do a lot more frequent water changes and that keeps my nitrates down. My fish are all healthy and my corals. The only thing I do is for top off I use distilled water so I am not constanly adding phosphates. I also ocassiionally run a phosphate remover and I always run carbon. This is just my story, not saying it will work for everyone.
edit - Another reason I decided to swith to tap water was after reading an article in Aquarium Fish Magazine that all the large aquariums use City water that has been treated by being run through carbon. they do not use RO/DI because it is not cost effective for them. I thought well if they can I will try it, their stuff looks great, lol!
And for all you that will say why not just buy and RO/DI.............. The biggest reason was, I was not comfortable wasting all of that water.
edit - Another reason I decided to swith to tap water was after reading an article in Aquarium Fish Magazine that all the large aquariums use City water that has been treated by being run through carbon. they do not use RO/DI because it is not cost effective for them. I thought well if they can I will try it, their stuff looks great, lol!
And for all you that will say why not just buy and RO/DI.............. The biggest reason was, I was not comfortable wasting all of that water.
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