Which Water to Use?

d2mini · 01-28-2013, 10:13 PM

I have a whole house water softener, under my kitchen sink i have a typical RO drinking water filter, and i also have a 5-stage RO/DI for my saltwater setup. Can I use any of this for a planted tank or should I use hard water out of the hose???

Darkblade48 · 01-28-2013, 10:52 PM

What are your regular (non-softened/non-treated) water parameters like?

d2mini · 01-28-2013, 11:32 PM

No idea. I've only tested the rodi water. What parameters are you looking for?

Darkblade48 · 01-29-2013, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

No idea. I've only tested the rodi water. What parameters are you looking for?

The usual; pH, gH, kH.

Is there any particular reason you want to avoid using your tap water, for example?

Tap water is usually fine for keeping most livestock.

d2mini · 01-29-2013, 01:42 AM

I will test and report back.

I have absolutely no qualms about using any of the options I listed above. I was just stating what I have available to me and wondering which is the best to use. "Tap" water for me would be softened, unless I use the hose water outside. I'm looking for guidance as to which would be my best option for a healthy planted tank.

Darkblade48 · 01-29-2013, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

I will test and report back.

I have absolutely no qualms about using any of the options I listed above. I was just stating what I have available to me and wondering which is the best to use. "Tap" water for me would be softened, unless I use the hose water outside. I'm looking for guidance as to which would be my best option for a healthy planted tank.

I would use the non-treated water (hose water from outside). Or, if you can find a way to bypass the water softener, it would be more convenient (than having to go outside to hook up a hose).

d2mini · 01-29-2013, 02:59 AM

I was just going through Frank's setup thread and he says, "I use pure RO/DI water as the water in Texas is very hard. I recommend it for anyone who has the means."
This is what I use for my SW tank so I always have 60 gallons of fresh RO/DI on hand, but in the past I thought I heard this wasn't good for planted tanks because the plants like whatever is in the water that is getting filtered out. I guess I heard wrong??? I am here in Houston with ADG so do as Frank does?

Man, i could teach a class on saltwater reef tanks but I feel like a complete goober with this fresh stuff. LOL!

Ach1Ll3sH33L · 01-29-2013, 04:35 AM

start with r/o water and reconstitute the minerals with a gh booster. seachem equilibrium, barr gh booster, green leaf aquariums gh booster are all options. Some people reconstitute KH with baking soda(though some say its not needed), i do. I aim for a gh around 4-5 and a kh of at least 2

Cthulhu · 01-29-2013, 05:35 AM

What about Seachem Reef Builder to add some KH to RO water, is that a good option?

d2mini · 01-29-2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkblade48

What are your regular (non-softened/non-treated) water parameters like?

Using just a test strip on straight city tap water, looks like GH and KH are right at the end of the scale, 180ppm and 240ppm respectively, and PH is about 7-7.5

d2mini · 01-30-2013, 12:57 AM

Ok, here's all the results. Please let me know which source I should use or which combination.

City Water from Outdoor Tap: GH-180 | KH-240 | PH-7.5
Whole House Water Softener: GH-0 | KH-240 | PH-7.5-8.0
Whole House Water Softener + Kitchen RO System: GH-0 | KH-240 | PH-7.5-8.0
Whole House Water Softener + 5 Stage RO/DI: GH-0 | KH-0 | PH-6.5

Thanks!

Bluek24a4 · 01-30-2013, 01:25 AM

I would use your 5 stage RO/DI water and some GH booster.

d2mini · 01-30-2013, 02:51 AM

Thanks! Is there a preferred GH booster i should look for?

Cthulhu · 01-30-2013, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluek24a4

I would use your 5 stage RO/DI water and some GH booster.

Would you only add GH Booster and stay with 0 KH?

funkman262 · 01-30-2013, 02:59 AM

Why spend money on a GH booster when you can just blend some softened and untreated water?

And by the way, I have really hard water as well but I don't use RO for my planted tank even though I have RO/DI for my reef. Been a while since I've tested for exact measurements but I could check it out and let you know. I think the TDS in my tank is around 650ppm.

01-28-2013, 10:13 PM	#1
d2mini Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 178	Which Water to Use? I have a whole house water softener, under my kitchen sink i have a typical RO drinking water filter, and i also have a 5-stage RO/DI for my saltwater setup. Can I use any of this for a planted tank or should I use hard water out of the hose???

01-28-2013, 10:52 PM	#2
Darkblade48 Moderator (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,160	What are your regular (non-softened/non-treated) water parameters like? __________________ Anthony A Primer to Pressurized CO2 and A Primer to Planted Tanks Eheim Pimp #362 - Eheim 2213 x2, Eheim 2028, Ehein 2217, Eheim surface skimmer and Eheim autofeeder. Victor Pimp #33 - HPT272-125-350-4M

01-29-2013, 04:35 AM	#8
Ach1Ll3sH33L Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Socal Posts: 153	start with r/o water and reconstitute the minerals with a gh booster. seachem equilibrium, barr gh booster, green leaf aquariums gh booster are all options. Some people reconstitute KH with baking soda(though some say its not needed), i do. I aim for a gh around 4-5 and a kh of at least 2 __________________ 48 Gallon Journal

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01-28-2013, 11:32 PM	#3
d2mini Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 178	No idea. I've only tested the rodi water. What parameters are you looking for?

01-29-2013, 01:42 AM	#5
d2mini Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 178	I will test and report back. I have absolutely no qualms about using any of the options I listed above. I was just stating what I have available to me and wondering which is the best to use. "Tap" water for me would be softened, unless I use the hose water outside. I'm looking for guidance as to which would be my best option for a healthy planted tank.

01-29-2013, 02:59 AM	#7
d2mini Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 178	I was just going through Frank's setup thread and he says, "I use pure RO/DI water as the water in Texas is very hard. I recommend it for anyone who has the means." This is what I use for my SW tank so I always have 60 gallons of fresh RO/DI on hand, but in the past I thought I heard this wasn't good for planted tanks because the plants like whatever is in the water that is getting filtered out. I guess I heard wrong??? I am here in Houston with ADG so do as Frank does? Man, i could teach a class on saltwater reef tanks but I feel like a complete goober with this fresh stuff. LOL!

01-29-2013, 05:35 AM	#9
Cthulhu Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 145	What about Seachem Reef Builder to add some KH to RO water, is that a good option?

01-30-2013, 12:57 AM	#11
d2mini Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 178	Ok, here's all the results. Please let me know which source I should use or which combination. City Water from Outdoor Tap: GH-180 \| KH-240 \| PH-7.5 Whole House Water Softener: GH-0 \| KH-240 \| PH-7.5-8.0 Whole House Water Softener + Kitchen RO System: GH-0 \| KH-240 \| PH-7.5-8.0 Whole House Water Softener + 5 Stage RO/DI: GH-0 \| KH-0 \| PH-6.5 Thanks!

01-30-2013, 01:25 AM	#12
Bluek24a4 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 746	I would use your 5 stage RO/DI water and some GH booster.

01-30-2013, 02:51 AM	#13
d2mini Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 178	Thanks! Is there a preferred GH booster i should look for?

01-30-2013, 02:59 AM	#15
funkman262 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 124	Why spend money on a GH booster when you can just blend some softened and untreated water? And by the way, I have really hard water as well but I don't use RO for my planted tank even though I have RO/DI for my reef. Been a while since I've tested for exact measurements but I could check it out and let you know. I think the TDS in my tank is around 650ppm.