Verifying information given at LFS (1 Viewer)

[Miller]

So I was told my initial water can be dechlorinated tap water for cycling then all top off/replacement water should be RODI. Your thoughts on this?

Thanks!

 

[Diesel]

............

 

[inigomontoya]

+1 to Ben. You can do it and what he suggested is common for fish only tanks. With a reef tank, especially sps you want to keep tight control over your parameters and tap water can have a lot unwanted junk. Better to control what you can and use RODI.

 

[Miller]

OK, I was wondering what happens to the things that come with tap water but thought maybe the cycling would deal with it but wanted to confirm. OK, until I can get a RODI installed I'll be hauling 5 gallon buckets of water from the fish store.

M.

 

[r_jay]

There's more than just particulates in tap water. If you ever look at the water quality reports there are trace amounts of all kinds of metals and chemicals. Best to at least get some filtration. I use water out of the culligan dispenser at walmart and that's not the best but better than nothing.

 

[Mark L.]

No way I would do it. 100% RO/DI 100% of the time.

 

[reeftopia]

for start up could he not buy water from the water machines at grocery stores, they normally have good readings

 

[Miller]

I've always wondered about the grocery store machines.

 

[r_jay]

They are ro not Di but I've been using them for years with no issues.

 

[Mark L.]

RO/DI units are fairly cheap considering what most of us spend in this hobby. I'd just get one and call it a day. Probably the best thing I've bought for my tank. I couldn't imagine living without one. A bonus is you always have fresh filtered drinking water also. I put a T & valve right before the DI canisters for fresh RO drinking water (fill old used water bottles) and I use RO/DI water in my coffee pot and for other cooking needs. No more nasty build up inside the coffee pot.

 

[inigomontoya]

There's tons of threads out there on those machines causing issues. Some are apparently great and "0" tds and some aren't. I would only use them if you have a way of testing the tds. I'm with Mark, the earlier you get an RODI unit the more money you save.

 

[steveb]

There's more than just particulates in tap water. If you ever look at the water quality reports there are trace amounts of all kinds of metals and chemicals.

+1


Also be careful with distilled bottled water. They may or may not be using a copper boiler.

 

[Miller]

Thanks everyone for the input.

Miller