There's rodi water, then there is tap...

[Kilich]

So I am currently cycling my tank right now.

I mixed salt and tap in a separate container to 1.024 ish salinity. I have gotten mixed reviews about doing this. The guy at my lfs says he doesn't do rodi water in his salt water tanks and he just uses tap water. Another friend said you can get ro water and not rodi to get by.


I just joined this site and want to hear your opinions or facts!

Thanks :D

[shifty51008]

the main part of the tank is water so why skip on it

IMO RODI water all the way

[welcome]

[Saadatski]

Welcome to RC bud.

i was like you too and i used tap water, and dont worry, we all do it. It is a very big nessesity for keeping a saltwater aquarium. tap water has alot of phosphates and even slight traces of nitrate. these are nutrients for annoying algea and some sensitive fish.

I bought my RO/DI unit from bulkreefsupply.com
i got their standard system and im really liking their system. it is the cheapest RO/DI unit for you buck, and its built really strong. it cost me around $160. there is also spectrapure, look into that also.

Good luck with your aquarium!

[thegrun]

Unless your local tap water is exceptional clean, using it is a recipe for a long term war with algae. Once hair algae gets established in a tank, it is very difficult to eradicate. This is an expensive hobby/habit, there are places to save money but tap water is a shortcut to avoid.

[Kilich]

Alright so I will use rodi water from now on but should I keep this tap water in that's been cycling for the last month or so??

[crvz]

You'll be fine to keep the tank as it is for now if you use RO/DI water moving forward. I wouldnt bother swapping out all the water form your tank, but I would also avoid using tap water from here on out.

[b0bab0ey]

IMO, you can "get away" with tap early on but as others have already pointed out, eventually you'll go crazy fighting nuisance algae and high nitrates/phosphates. Most people just throw the towel in. Save yourself the headaches and start using RO/DI water.

[neoalchemist74]

Rodi is the golden highway to the heavenly clouds of succes.

[mess7777]

I think it really depends where you are living. I have seen a few people running extremely successful tanks with tap water....living in less densely population areas with very good freshwater supply.

For the record though, I was advised for my area that tap water is alright...and continue to use it. My nitrates and phosphates are 0. However, I do have algae.....at this point unclear if it was already bound in the rock(only 1 rock has signifcant algae and it came from a seperate source than the rest) or if it is coming from my tap water. I am strongly considering an RODI system.

If you can handle the expense, it's likely worth it in the long wrong. Also, you can use it to make super clear ice cubes and impress your friends, lol.

[crvz]

While I've seen folks keep marine tanks with tap water on a long term basis, I can't say I've ever seen a successful tank dominated with stony corals on that formula. It has also been by far the exception.

[windyridge]

I've been using tap water from our well for 5 months now. We live in a very rural area and I can't see my neighbors. My phosphates out of the tap are .025 and there is no nitrate or any other contaminants that I have found so far. No algae problems yet.

[iamwrasseman]

RO/DI or get out of the hobby as its a very basic need for good aquarium paramiters . use tap and you will have issues for sure .

[diaz2010]

RODI all the way! I too started out using tap water. It is true that it eventually leads to algae taking hold...

[iamwrasseman]

RO/DI of you will be fighting algae real soon ,believe me been there done that .many of us have and we have learned from our mistakes so dont do as we tried to do .