Getting back into marine few questions.

T

tranksBEAR

New member
So im just curious about a few things!

Anyone here use tap water for top offs?

those of you who keep water at the ready...What are your cheap effective ways of storing your water?
 
I used tap exclusively for 10 years in my fowlr. I wouldn't think about using it in my reef.

I make water as needed, but others here would probably say that is not wise.
 
When i first started my FOWLR i used tap water and a dechlorinator. Of course, I moved into the coral side of things, (Who can resist!?!!!) and continued with tap water and generally speaking, weak lights and irregular water changes, i was (and still am) a beginner.

CR Reef member "Option" has a beautiful reef tank and he told me he uses tap water and trust me, he has amazing growth on softies and lps! But I don't know the specifics of his tank, equip, and husbandry practices other than that he uses M.H. and a sump. Personally, I would just get a 4 or 5 stage rodi system from BRS with a tds meter attached.

Since 3 months ago, I have gotten a 5 stage brs rodi system, it takes a few hours to accumulate the clean water I need and it uses up pricey media, so I can't just waste it, therefore I use a black colored 32 gallon rubbermaid roughneck plastic trash container from either home depot or Lowe's (i don't remember), since its made from a safe plastic, to store my clean rodi water. The brand doesn't matter, what matters is the number on the bottom or inside of your container, I suggest you do a little research on food safe plastics. I keep a heater, thermometer, and an old powerhead in it to make smooth top offs on my tank.

AFTER a few months of using rodi, and highly upgraded lights, I can see some definite improvements. (went from 216 watts to 716 watts). I am also 1,000% positive that using rodi has contributed to the slow down of the algae growth in my tank, I also don't have to use dechlorinator anymore.

2 cents
 
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If u r serious about getting into hobby the right way get a rodi . My tank been running ten yrs now first 7 i used city tap and prime to behonest tank ran fine no algae issues tons of coraline algae. But it was a softie tank shrooms xenia leathers etc and i never tested and used instant ocean. But in hind sight i got lucky every tank reacts different water supplys add dif chemicals ro takes out the varables i run ro now for few yrs and tank is now 95percent sps. And doing great i keep at least 25 gal water on hand in storage container from hone depot never checked if food safe but been useing for yrs again probably got lucky
 
Well i cannot afford an ro system at the time so i have decided to go ahead and purchase some ro water from a store at really good price...Im looking into trashcans to store water alot of people are saying brute...but then others are saying cheap walmart cans are fine...I know im looking for food safe but what EXACTLY am i looking for? ive heard the number too ive herad pp pe ive heard NSF...Lol which one am i looking for lol?
 
Any container that you can store food will work. It has to be a food safe container.

Before spending any more money on your tank, start saving for an rodi unit. That and a controller will be your 2 best investments but they cost lol

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I used tap water with dechlorinator for 10 years since I 11 years old and broke and started. I was always having problems with water quality, mainly high phosphates. TDS in various places around here were 150-300.

Anywho, for FOWLR it was okay since I can clean the substrate and rocks easier. I would still recommend RO/DI or at at least RO for FOWLR tanks... For reefs no way jose. I've had RO/DI for the last few years. No looking back.
 
Well ive had this tank up and running for four years on tap just no effort my frogspawn and my fish are still alive but I think ill switch from tap to ro.
 
tranksBEAR said:
Well ive had this tank up and running for four years on tap just no effort my frogspawn and my fish are still alive but I think ill switch from tap to ro.
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tranksBEAR said:
Well i cannot afford an ro system at the time so i have decided to go ahead and purchase some ro water from a store at really good price...Im looking into trashcans to store water alot of people are saying brute...but then others are saying cheap walmart cans are fine...I know im looking for food safe but what EXACTLY am i looking for? ive heard the number too ive herad pp pe ive heard NSF...Lol which one am i looking for lol?
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fwiw, if you are currently using tap water without issue, I would keep using tap and save all the money you plan on spending RO from a store and buy a decent second hand RO unit from a local reefer here on the boards....
 
Yeah I use tap water + dechlorinator in my reef tank and make water for changes and top off as needed. That's really not how you want to do it, especially with sps, but I haven't had any major issues to date. Coralline everywhere, very little green algae, lps grows like crazy, and recently added my first sps (monti). It's doable, but as I said not really how you want to do it if you can avoid it. You're probably like me trying to prioritize upgrades, that's one I decided I can put off until I have my controller up and running with leak detectors, battery backup, that sort of thing (might even wait until I move out of this apartment). For what it's worth. If you're going into sps quickly I'd throw that rodi unit to the top of the list (along with lights and flow). Good luck whatever you decide.
 
Gunner said:
Yeah I use tap water + dechlorinator in my reef tank and make water for changes and top off as needed. That's really not how you want to do it, especially with sps, but I haven't had any major issues to date. Coralline everywhere, very little green algae, lps grows like crazy, and recently added my first sps (monti). It's doable, but as I said not really how you want to do it if you can avoid it. You're probably like me trying to prioritize upgrades, that's one I decided I can put off until I have my controller up and running with leak detectors, battery backup, that sort of thing (might even wait until I move out of this apartment). For what it's worth. If you're going into sps quickly I'd throw that rodi unit to the top of the list (along with lights and flow). Good luck whatever you decide.
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I'd probably put all of those items you listed below and RODI unit. A good skimmer and RODI unit are probably #1 and #2 for me. I've had a controller for over a year and the only thing I use it for is controlling my heater tubes, turning my sump light on/off, and and turning my supplemental leds on/off. This could be accomplished with a regular heater and some cheap timers. My lights, powerheads, and return pump all have internal controls. I know a lot of people on here utilize their controllers more than me, but I see it as a luxury and not a must-have. This is not how I see an rodi unit.
 
Ah yes, skimmer should be number 1 for sure. I'll agree with you on that. Can't wait till I have a sump so I can get a bigger one myself.
 
Invest in a r/o unit. People may have success with tap water, but keep in mind that only those that have had success with tap water are posting, those that tried tap and are now out of the hobby because of problems are not posting.
 
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