if you knew...

[saltysteven]

if you knew ...
i recently discovered that when i filled my tank the R/O wasnt working right. i took it apart the other day trying to figure out my cloudy water situation and i noticed that when i installed the membrane it wasnt pushed in tight enough. now it just drips out - its so slow!!!
anyway If you knew this would you throw out all of that water, buy more salt and start over? the tank didnt cycle yet - only running for almost 2 weeks.

[RobNJ]

I would just let it cycle and do some nice big water changes in a month or so.

[jefnalyssa]

Your unit should have a number followed by gpd. that means gallons per day. Most likely your unit is fine. To be safe you should probly start over. How big is the tank your filling? Was it all the way filled? What are you planning to keep in it?

[MalHavoc]

At worst, you bypassed your RO membrane and filled your tank using water that passed through the sediment and carbon filters, so it's still better than tap water. Just do a few water changes and use the good stuff from here on out.

[rustybucket145]

You should be good to go.... Let it ride! Heck, many tanks were started with tap water (mine included) then we made the switch to RO/DI units. You'll be fine.

[Dustin1231]

every tank ive ever done (3 of them) i just used the hose from out side and mixed in some salt. May not be the best way, but never had a problem.

[waterpologirl]

AHHH! Rubber hoses are bad. I know that from freshwater.

[chk4tix]

I would just continue with the process and let the tank cycle. When I did my first tank and for about 9 months, I just used water strait from the hose and out of both my tanks, I have had less water problems with that one for some reason.

[sohal1025]

You might want to check the phosphates, there are alot in tap water.

[rustybucket145]

there are alot in tap water.

FALSE! Some tap water contains amounts of phosphate, some doesn't.

[demonsp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11008570#post11008570 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rustybucket145
FALSE! Some tap water contains amounts of phosphate, some doesn't.

Tap water may have untraceable amounts of bad contamintes that only over time can become a big problem.
Also rubber hoses are very bad should not drink from them or fill pet bowls with them.
With all the problems that you can have with this hobby, its great whene you can eliminate a mian problem like tap water up front.

[ford prefect]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11009131#post11009131 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
Tap water may have untraceable amounts of bad contamintes that only over time can become a big problem.
Also rubber hoses are very bad should not drink from them or fill pet bowls with them.
With all the problems that you can have with this hobby, its great whene you can eliminate a mian problem like tap water up front.

agreed. IMO, i would throw it all out and use good RO/DI

[jamiep]

Just be warned, I used tap water to fill my tank and have bad water, my phosphate was sky high! If you plan on keeping it, I'd do a 50% change after the cycle, followed by 20% change for a while, but that was my tap water!

[chatyak]

I haven't started to fill mine... but I plan on letting tap water aerate for a week with a powerhead in a rubbermaid with decholarinator for good measure before adding to tank... no $$ for RO and a week with a powerhead and dechlorination should do the trick :)

[jamiep]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11009851#post11009851 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chatyak
I haven't started to fill mine... but I plan on letting tap water aerate for a week with a powerhead in a rubbermaid with decholarinator for good measure before adding to tank... no $$ for RO and a week with a powerhead and dechlorination should do the trick :)

That won't get rid of your phospahtes though, only disolved gasses. If your leaving it for a week there almost isn't any point in declorinating it, all your disolved gasses will evaporate out within 48hours usually.

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11009886#post11009886 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamiep
That won't get rid of your phospahtes though, only disolved gasses. If your leaving it for a week there almost isn't any point in declorinating it, all your disolved gasses will evaporate out within 48hours usually.

Good point. Although it depends on each individuals phospates in their tap systems no? Personally I do not know what ours are, but I'm sure they wouldn't be the best for reefs.

How detrimental are phosphates to your systems health? Would not a good skimmer and macroalgae help significantly? Won't ask anymore.. not my thread :D Yea I know. newb question.

[jamiep]

Skimmer no, macro algae yes. It doesn't matter what you phospahte levels are in your water, running it round in a rubbermaid wont get rid of them. If it did our tanks would be free from them too, their just a big "glassmaid" container. A whole week in a rubber maid really won't be that benificial. 48hours would be more than enough. If it's for airation, that will fall way down within 24hours of being in your tank, if not less.

[chatyak]

Hmm I was just reading in reefkeeping magazine that skimmers would help too... and I quote "2. Skimming is another big winner, in my opinion. Not only does it export organic forms of phosphate, reducing the potential for them to break down into inorganic phosphate, but it reduces other nutrients and increases gas exchange. Gas exchange is an issue that many aquarists don't ordinarily recognize, but it is the primary driver of reef aquarium pH problems."


Point taken on the rubbermaid though.

[reefergeorge]

I think you should be fine. I originally filled all my tanks with tap water and start doing my wc with rodi. I don't have the patients to wait two days for a tank to fill.

[sohal1025]

I understand you just have to do what you have to do.