What brand of salt, and type of water do you use?

[Steve_B]

I believe that the reef guys need R/O water for their corals. I use IO salt and straight tap water. The only 2 test kits I have for testing tap water quality are copper and phosphate. My tap water has 0 for those 2. I used to use one of those tap water filters that you run the tap water through at 1 cup per 30 seconds. It's resin supposedly removes all of these other bad substances found in tap water. Tap water can vary from one town to another, depending on their water treatment facilities. I add Prime to my water as well, which is supposed to neutralize some of these unwanted substances. I have used straight cold tap water (no heated tap water so I don’t get anything from the water heater) for most of the years, and only on occasion that filter I mentioned earlier. Now since I don't have a reef, and no live rock either, I'm just curious what some of you guys use. I think reefs look nice, but seem like a PITA. I like interesting big fish, not little bugs and shrimp and some pod things you look for at 2am with a flashlight.
I have a Wet/Dry system running with very high rate pumps through modular 25-micron filters and activated carbon.
I also have a Berlin skimmer, and I know they have a bad reputation. I get about 3/4 full of dark slimy crap in the collection cup a week. That may be because I have a very low load in my tank. So anyway, back to the subject at hand. What do you guys use? BTW, my nitrate never goes above 30PPM, right now it doesn't even register because of some big water changes I made in about the last week.

[Billybeau1]

I prefer FO as well. To each his own I guess. FO tanks will do fine with IO, which is what I've used for a long time. In fact many people use IO because of its consistency, even if they have to suppliment calcium and magnesium once in a while.

Now the water. I ran my FO tank on tap water for a number of years before investing in an RO/DI. The hardier fish didnt seem to mind, however, the more delicate fish did not do well in tap water. Even when using a water conditioner like Amquel or Novaqua. I would invest in an RO/DI. Your fish will thank you. :D

I also have always kept my tank at 1.020 with no problems. Seems less stressful on the fish. And I do run a UV sterilizer.

FWIW, my tap water in the 'burbs has a TDS of 115-124ppm. Since we get our water from you, I suspect it should be close to the same.

Good Luck :)

[nataz]

I use reef crystals, water depends on if i remeber to stock up on my ro water before my other half uses it for cooking and ect .If not i use tap water havent had any prob with algae or anything else ,nitrate around 40 but i also have bio-balls which most would say no to.My tank is 50/50 pred and reef and i love it,but that me.:)

[hdtvguy]

IO salt and I use RO water for water changes and auto top off.

[mitzel]

I use R/o di water and instant ocean salt mix. I have yet to invest in a ro unit but I do have 6 5 gallon jugs that I fill up at the store . If I have to I will use tap water for top off's but even then I try to run it thru the pater purifier.

:wildone:

[Steve_B]

I have thought of getting an R/O set-up. The only place in my house I would be able to hook the water supply, is from the garage water for the hose, and run pipes over to the area that I keep my fish stuff. They are too big to use under a standard sink, right?

I have never really paid much attention to the hardware, and if what I were talking about would work.

Am I correct that it would not fit under sink? So, if I were to get one, I would need a very powerful pump to go from ground floor to my 2nd floor.

Any thoughts?

[Billybeau1]

Most units that I've seen fit under a standard sink. I personally have mine hooked up to the laundry tub. Sits right on the back out of the way. I run the water to an 18 gal tupperware container that sits on the floor next to the sink.

[ledford1]

I'm a fish fan also. Corals and other little critters are neat though.

I use IO salt. It's readily available and decent on the pocketbook.

I started off with a Captive Purity Bare Bones RO unit for water purification. I now have a Typhoon III from Ariwaterice.com and really enjoy it. I've also noticed an improvement in my tanks since going to RO/DI - it's a good investment.

Going FOWLR, I use LR for filtration but also depend on a good skimmer. I run the EuroReef CS8-3 in the sump of my 180. In the sump, I have more LR for greater bio filtration. I also run a PhosBan Reactor to help keep things in check. I have a UV sterilizer but haven't used it in awhile because I haven't bought a new bulb yet.

[Steve_B]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6521873#post6521873 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
Most units that I've seen fit under a standard sink. I personally have mine hooked up to the laundry tub. Sits right on the back out of the way. I run the water to an 18 gal tupperware container that sits on the floor next to the sink.




My house doesn't have a basement, and the laundry room barely fits the washer and dryer. I do have a standard sink and vanity in the bathroom room that has my 225 in that bedroom. I think I have to research them to get a better idea of the space taken up and how exactly they work. I use 55 gal cans for mixing my salt for my 225. Do the R/O units only put out water when you need it? My wife would never let me get away with 2 giant containers in my closet all the time. I store all of my fish stuff in a corner of the garage that has been allotted to me for it, so that is where my buckets, and all of my other crap associated with it go.

[monstereef]

I use R/O premixed saltwater from my local fish store.
Never had a problem with it and too lazy to store water and mix myself.

[Steve_B]

Hey, I forgot to ask. What benifit do you see when you use R/O water instead of tap water? Do the fish look or act in some different way?

[Steve_B]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6524143#post6524143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by monstereef
I use R/O premixed saltwater from my local fish store.
Never had a problem with it and too lazy to store water and mix myself.

I have over 300 gal of water between both of my tanks. Buying water would not only be expensive (I'm guessing) but I would have to haul most of it to my 225 upstairs. No thanks:(

[Monkeyfish]

Use a RODI unit and Tropic Marin salt for both my FOWLR and reef.

[aquaman67]

IO and RO/DI.

[Petstorejunkie]

i have had the best succes using tap water and instant ocean. kent salt makes me break out in hives and itch for days, tropic marin is ungodly expensive and generally used for human consumption animals (lobster tanks) and unless you are keeping a reef tank you are jsut throwing your money away. most of the public aquariums use instant ocean.
i say if you are doing a FO and you dont have an algae problem use tap water. it has been my experience that if i have to go to the d*#n store and pick up water in jugs and lug it, my tanks never get the water changes that they need. it costs me 31 cents per gallon to make it at home without RO. and i am able to keep "hard to keep" or sensitive fish using this method.
i do a 15% water change weekly, or i do 20% at around 12 days if i get lazy.
<I love berlin skimmers, and so do all the professionals i know as well>

[Steve_B]

Petstorejunkie, that has always been my way of thinking too. I still want to know what detectable difference R/O water makes in a fish only tank.
:confused:

[ACBlinky]

I use Instant Ocean and tap water conditioned with Prime for both my FOWLR and two reefs. I have seen NO discernable difference in fish or coral behaviour, colour or general well-being since I switched off of bottled distilled and started using tap.

[Lakeside518]

I also use Instant ocean and conditioned Tap water-well water filtered and treated with a peroxide water system with no troubles.

[stevebydac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6523937#post6523937 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steve_B
My wife would never let me get away with 2 giant containers in my closet all the time. I store all of my fish stuff in a corner of the garage that has been allotted to me for it,

Take your skirt off! Demand more space! :uzi: Put your foot down! Equal rights!!!! :hammer:

(I'm single. Easy for me to say!) :p

[tonytiger05]

I use instant ocean salt and fresh tap water

[cjvolitan]

instant ocean reef crystals and tap water really good so far but i tihnkk iw ill go for ro water pretty soon cause i hate to see all that excess algea all over the tank i rather the clinical clean tank look as far as glass and sand go. live rock yes diatoms NO!!!!lol
aslo tried Azoo reef salt rather instant ocean

[Petstorejunkie]

i only reccomend ro water for fishy people trying to heal head and lateral line disease, or keeping super hard to keep fish that freak out and die when the wind blows wrong... :) unless you are planning on breeding pygme seahorses, or hosting a pair of blue and yellow ribbon eels, stick with the tap and save yoru money.
as far as difference in color or behavior in fish the ro does not make a measuralbe difference worthy of its price.

[SW1TCH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6524143#post6524143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by monstereef
I use R/O premixed saltwater from my local fish store.
Never had a problem with it and too lazy to store water and mix myself.
Nah you just have to much money....


I use IO salt and tap water on all three of my tanks even the reef tank. All corals look and do great along with the fish.

[jmicky41]

My tap water is loaded with silica, nitrates and phosphates (and who knows what else). I don't even drink it. So I bought a 35 gpd Kent RO ( RO only, no DI) for around $150. When I used the tap water, I had to fight with algae blooms constantly. My RO sits on top of my hot water heater and connects to my utility sink with a removable faucet adapter. It pays for itself because now I don't have to buy drinking water from the store. Oh yeah, Kent Marine Salt.

[zemuron114]

i use IO salt and tap water for both my reef and fowlr

[dchao]

Another vote for IO salt, no need to pay premium for reef salt on FO tank. Just dose calcium and buffer when they get low. RO/DI for me too, salt dissolves quicker in RO/DI water too.

[Steve_B]

I'm starting to think my tap water and prime may just be the way to continue on. I have had Angels develop hole in the head, that I cured with sponge. I never knew it was so critical for them, until I found out here at RC. The weird thing about it, is that Angel Formula is the only food I can find that really contains it.

[dchao]

OT: Hikari makes one too, but I have never used it:

http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20021221183242/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/products/large/p_12999_20349D.jpg
(Mega-Marine Angel)

[Steve_B]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6538896#post6538896 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dchao
OT: Hikari makes one too, but I have never used it:

http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20021221183242/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/products/large/p_12999_20349D.jpg
(Mega-Marine Angel)

I think I'll try some of that too. I have read the more sponge in their diet the better. I have had angels that never had the problem, but as we know, they are not all the same.

[Petstorejunkie]

sort of off subject, but ro water is really unhealthy for humans with long term drinking use.

[Petstorejunkie]

hikari's mega marine angel is the bomb! my emperor an dmy cow fish give it two fins up

[hdtvguy]

I use Hikari's Mega Marine Angel frozen food for all my Angels and they love it.

[dc1718]

I have the same problem with no space for a RO/DI. You can buy a pump for the unit off ebay for like 90 bucks. Marine depot has them but they are 150. I put a good two spout adapter off my washer line and run my tubing about 50 feet or so to my water tank in my stand for top off.

http://www.purelyh2o.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=26&category_id=10

[pitt_prodigy]

I use ro/di water with Tropic Marin salt. Great for shroom and coral growth... good pH and Ca+ levels. Very stable.

[Steve_B]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6531651#post6531651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stevebydac
Take your skirt off! Demand more space! :uzi: Put your foot down! Equal rights!!!! :hammer:

(I'm single. Easy for me to say!) :p

I like to get along, besides that she has no problems with all of the thousands I've spent on my fish stuff, digital SLR camera, Corvette and whatever else I want. And she makes about 75% of the household income. I've got it pretty good, so I'll keep my fish stuff in my little space and not complain.

[Steve_B]

Correction: I have some more money coming in now, so I'm at about maybe 35% of our household income. Actually I don't know how to use a calculator, but it is something like that. I should be able to buy more crap now.:smokin:

[capt. insano]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6541746#post6541746 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Petstorejunkie
sort of off subject, but ro water is really unhealthy for humans with long term drinking use.

?? can you explain? are you saying that because it strips water down closer to pure H20, thus removing minerals and such that it is unhealthy?

If so, I bet that you get more than enough of most of the major minerals through your food intake and multi-vitamin

[capt. insano]

Randy Holmes-Farley and the water expert on this thread also disagree with the assertion that r/o or ro/di is bad for human consumption
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=112424&highlight=ro+water+unhealthy+to+drink

[Steve_B]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6541746#post6541746 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Petstorejunkie
sort of off subject, but ro water is really unhealthy for humans with long term drinking use.

Yes, I have read the same thing.

[jmicky41]

Some people are concerned that RO is too pure - containing no minerals and such. That might be true, but with a somewhat balanced diet you will get more than enough minerals from your food. After all, who knows what is in your tap water: pesticides, mercury, cadnium, lead, aresenic ect. I drink RO.

[sunfishh]

Does anyone use natural salt water for their FO and FOWLR tanks?