can i use faucet water? (1 Viewer)

[Hilda]

Hi, I am trying to set up 40g. Can run the water hose to the tank, treat the water for chlorine, then add the salt and let it run for a few days? I bought Petco sand mix. I do not have the ro/di filtration. What do you suggest? I set up my 2g with faucet water and added the salt and I have living fish in it.

 

[jeremy]

for you initial set up you would be ok using tap water and treating it. I did this on my tank and every thing was ok. you may have a little extra algae growth.

 

[karlo]

Just go buy some at the nearest windmill anything other than tap water, you won't regret it later

 

[crvz]

I would not ever use tap water. having done so in the past, I've found it's not worth importing the extra contaminants into the tank.

 

[goby1kanobi]

Getting Started and FAQs-
http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=19
Here is another source that is also very helpful:
http://www.fishlore.com/reeftanksetup.htm

I want the experience you have with saltwater reefkeeping to be a enjoyable one for you as well as your fish.
We as aquarists have a direct impact on the life or death of our fish and invertebrates. Please don't take this responsibility lightly.
I'm glad the 2 gallon fish are alive but it can be very costly to ignore the basics.

 

[Guest]

I have converted my tank to full tap.

Only use a carbon bottle to filter similar to the Windmill water dispenser but normally I top-off with straight tap.

 

[cstewart79]

true but don't you have a macro tank and phosphates would be good for that

 

[bcallahan]

I use tap as well, though I run Purigen (though just passive in the sump). I just don't have the room to run a ro/di unit (plus I'm too lazy to set it up). I don't have any algae or other problems (though I'm not keeping SPS - because I don't have room to run a Ca reactor, plus I'm too lazy to set one up). In fact I can't grow macro algae in my refugium (perhaps iron deficiency? I was actually hoping tapwater would supply the iron or give me some phosphates or something).

In any event, can one use tap and run a successful tank? Yes. But I live in downtown Houston so I don't know whether some crazy well water/suburban water would have worse stuff in it. Of course if you want a ro/di unit then by all means, buy one and use it. Ro/di units, like many other pieces of equipment, cannot substitute for knowing how to keep aquariums (which comes from reading books/articles, experience, observing your livestock, buying healthy livestock, common sense, etc. etc. etc.)

 

[Guest]

true but don't you have a macro tank and phosphates would be good for that

This is true but there were suggestions of using the windmill water dispenser and those rely mostly on carbon filtration.

 

[R-BallJunkie]

true but don't you have a macro tank and phosphates would be good for that

This is true but there were suggestions of using the windmill water dispenser and those rely mostly on carbon filtration.

i find windmill water tests just fine, less than 10 ppm most of the time.

i am sure it is hit and miss.

end of the day, you can look at a RO unit as an investment in yourself and family. even though i use it for my tank, the whole family enjoys having good clean water to make coffee, juice, and a nice glass of high quality H20

Bobby Boucher: Now that's what I call high quality H2O.

 

[CBBSteve]

Hi, Hilda.
Since you're a beginner, I would strongly recommend against using tap water. Maybe you could make it work after you get a lot more experience, but you're going to have enough questions and problems about stuff you don't understand as it is. IMO, if you start off with good quality water, at least you can eliminate that when something doesn't look right.

Good luck,
Steve

 

[goby1kanobi]

+2 CBBSteve

 

[Kat222]

ok what do you do when your filling a larger tank...over 100 gals? run back and forth to the windmill with 5 gallon jugs?
i bought my wife a 130 gal awhile back and after getting it resealed this weekend we put it in place and filled it 3/4 with tap water to check for leaks...
now it is holding water just fine and i am wondering if we should drain it and refill it or just treat the water add salt and cycle it for a week or 2?
any suggestions would help...

 

[CBBSteve]

run back and forth to the windmill with 5 gallon jugs?

that's what I'm doin'

Good luck,
Steve

 

[goby1kanobi]

Well, you need to judge your druthers.......
Either...

ok what do you do when your filling a larger tank...over 100 gals? run back and forth to the windmill with 5 gallon jugs?

OR.......
Kick and scream and spend another 6-8 months pouring money and using every treatment ever invented to try to get rid of the algae and mess in your newly sealed tank.....
Or.....invest in a gently used or new R/O H20 filter that you are going to use over and over and over......
And not have to drive to the windmill.
You will still need to haul it from the laundry room or garage but it beats the other 2 options.

I truly believe that the water makes a big difference. At least in my part of town...People may lead you to believe they use tap all the time...No big deal.....but .......not my experience.
My .02

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

Can you use faucet water? Sure
Should you? No

 

[joedirte8]

I started off my tank using tap water, and I didn't really have any problems that were out of the ordinary for a couple of months. However, after my tank crashed and after constantly battling phosphates and algae blooms, I bought a 7 stage RO system. Since I started using the RO/DI system, I have not had any detectable phosphates and my corals seem to be healthier. My 7 stage system cost $100 with shipping off of ebay. I think that it will be well worth the $100 just in the stress that you will not have.

About a month ago my sediment filters became so clogged that the RO system didn’t have enough pressure to purify the water (these were supposed to be 2 year filters and only lasted 5 months, if that doesn’t tell you how crappy the water is, I don’t know what does). So, I started filling my Auto Top Off with sink water (My tank evaporates 1-1/2 gal/day). About 2 weeks ago I had a brown algae bloom has covered all of the sand in my tank in about 24 hours. Also, my glass gets covered with brown algae every 2 days or so. So, yesterday I went and bought some phonsphoban and new sediment filters. It’s just not worth the headache using tap water.

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

Who on god's green earth told you a sediment filter would last two years? Because you mentioned a 7 stage system, let me guess...

An ebay vendor?

 

[reefling]

Can you use faucet water? Sure
Should you? No

^^ that guy is wise...

I used britta water for one topoff and had diatoms for almost two weeks. that was 1 gallon of water. i added prime, so i am nearly certain that I just added the silicates that were needed for them.

 

[joedirte8]

Actually, those are the specs listed on the filter package. The same specs are listed on the new filters that I bought from Home Depot a couple of weeks ago. They say that the filters will last 6 months in heavy mineral water, 2 years in normal water, and even up to 3 years. I guess Houston in heavy mineral water.