can i use faucet water? (1 Viewer)

[Linden]

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.

Wow, and all this because of tap water. I have had the same brown algae growing in my tank for years. I clean the glass with a mag scraper every two or three days, and my Goby's clean the sand bed. I use Tap water and have for six years. Do I know that RO is Better? Yes. Should I get a System? Probably. Can someone use Tap water? No Doubt.


CBBSteve has good advise, it will be one less parameter worry to have to fight, but you can do it if you like. I do.... however I would like to get an RO system at the right price. Less algae and cleaner water no doubt, and you wont have to clean the glass and sand be like me.

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

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.

Remember they are thinking that you'll use those filters in a drinking water system with a very low capacity membrane (e.g., 12 gpd). Even if you don't exceed the chlorine capacity of the membrane in 6 months, you have the issue of biofilm/slime developing in all portions of the system exposed to non chlorinated water.

Russ

 

[Linden]

Can you use faucet water? Sure
Should you? No

Could you give me some advise? I have a Rain Bird water softener and a 25 micron final line filter on my house. What type of system would you recommend for me. I have a 90 gallon that I top off with 5 gallons of tap water every other week. Does everyone use holding tanks to store good water while not in use? What are the maintenance costs associated with these systems?
Nick

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

Feeding a RO or RODI system softened water is ideal. Softened water has had calcium and magnesium removed from it - these are the minerals that end up clogging a membrane with scale.

With your tank size, a 75 gpd RODI would be a good choice. You wouldn't have to have storage capacity for your DI water, but you might find that having some on hand is convenient.

About every 6 months, you'd be looking at (in round numbers), $4 for a new sediment filter, $12 for a new carbon block, and $12 for a DI resin refill.

Russ

 

[Linden]

Thanks

 

[Hilda]

never did use faucet water

After reading your replies, I decided to buy the premixed water from Minh at Bay Area Aq. As I did water changes I have been to the Windmill water, then I got some more premixed water. I still get the aglea covering the sand and on the glass. I clean the glass everyday with the magnet cleaner. I decided not to use faucet water so that I wouldn't have the algea episodes. However, my fish seem healthy so carting the water in the jugs keeps the fish hearty at least. thanks all.

 

[flexrac]

good water circulation will keep your glass and/or your sandbed clean.
pick up a rodi unit, saves you money in the long run. i just ordered a 6 stage this week and it should be here today. comes with drinking water spout and pressure gage as well as tank.