Converting from reef: may I trash my RO/DI?

bugmunch · 08-05-2004, 07:18 PM

I'd much, much prefer to use a Python and quit lugging all those horrible buckets up and down the stairs.

That said, my tap water has about 2 ppm nitrates (no big deal), 0.5 ppm phospates, and around 350 ppm total TDS; haven't measured silicates, but my guess is they're pretty high. Seems like most things in my tap water (other than chloramine) are good or harmless for a planted system, but I'm a little concerned about the nasties accumulating if I replace evaporation losses with tap water.

Thoughts? How many of y'all use tap water instead of RO or RO/DI?

cich · 08-05-2004, 07:21 PM

I use tap water, but I'd really recommend replacing evaporation with RO/DI though. Regular water changes however, are fine with just tap. You know that chloramine has to be treated with de-chlorinator, and will never evaporate from the water, right? Just making sure.

--cich

John P. · 08-05-2004, 08:22 PM

How's the kH & dH of your water out of the tap? If it's soft, I'd saw you're okay without it. And you can keep all the soft-water fish we all like: tetras, etc.

fishpoop · 08-06-2004, 04:34 AM

for a planted tank you should be making water changes about every week. so you might not need to top up evaporation losses. Especialy if you stop using hot metal halide lighting, also lower water temp ~75 might reduce evap. SO GET A PYTHON

and forget about the buckets.

08-05-2004, 07:18 PM	#1
bugmunch Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 14	Converting from reef: may I trash my RO/DI? I'd much, much prefer to use a Python and quit lugging all those horrible buckets up and down the stairs. That said, my tap water has about 2 ppm nitrates (no big deal), 0.5 ppm phospates, and around 350 ppm total TDS; haven't measured silicates, but my guess is they're pretty high. Seems like most things in my tap water (other than chloramine) are good or harmless for a planted system, but I'm a little concerned about the nasties accumulating if I replace evaporation losses with tap water. Thoughts? How many of y'all use tap water instead of RO or RO/DI?

08-05-2004, 07:21 PM	#2
cich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 1,062	I use tap water, but I'd really recommend replacing evaporation with RO/DI though. Regular water changes however, are fine with just tap. You know that chloramine has to be treated with de-chlorinator, and will never evaporate from the water, right? Just making sure. --cich __________________ Plants are gone, but my 33gal and I are back after a long hiatus.

08-05-2004, 08:22 PM	#3
John P. Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laguna Beach, CA Posts: 1,321	How's the kH & dH of your water out of the tap? If it's soft, I'd saw you're okay without it. And you can keep all the soft-water fish we all like: tetras, etc. __________________ John P.

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08-06-2004, 04:34 AM	#4
fishpoop Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: kitchener On. Can Posts: 162	for a planted tank you should be making water changes about every week. so you might not need to top up evaporation losses. Especialy if you stop using hot metal halide lighting, also lower water temp ~75 might reduce evap. SO GET A PYTHON and forget about the buckets.