Water n Ice

blehman419 · 04/08/2007, 11:33 PM

I've used tap water for the past year in my tank. But the tank was sort of a 'project we will get to when we get our house' type tank and the algae growth built up. We have the house now, and have been adding live rock over the last month and it's time to get this algae problem under control. I purchased a lawnmower blenny, and two astrea snails for support, and did a 20% water change with water from Water n Ice.

I am curious if anyone else uses/has used water from Water n Ice, and if it is good or bad? I also have been testing very high for nitrates, everything else is in line though. Is this just from the tap water, possible overfeeding. (one mysis cube every other day for 4 small damsels)

thanks
brandon

Blakethebug · 04/08/2007, 11:43 PM

water and ice is actually a great place for water so you are just fine there. i wouldnt use tap water if i were you even if it is only a FOWLR tank it can just cause problems for ya later on

blehman419 · 04/08/2007, 11:56 PM

awesome, there is a water n ice a stones throw away from my new home. i really hope the clean H20 will clear up the algae problem.

sir_dudeguy · 04/08/2007, 11:58 PM

Thats what i use....not water n ice, but watermart. Same difference. Just make sure that you test for TDS when using their water. They have RO water which is what you want, but there's no telling when they last changed the filters so the TDS could be up a bit. I've never had that problem w/the watermart that i go to though.

blehman419 · 04/09/2007, 12:11 AM

TDS? not quite sure what that is. I'm sure i could search for the meaning, but the search doesn't work for me that often. also, if the water from water n ice is good, is there any reason to purchase a ro unit for such a small tank?

61scout80 · 04/09/2007, 12:12 AM

also keep in mind that the algea battle will be long and hard. it has to slowly starve to death. you may want to try a sea hare, i hear they are algea destroyers.

Smo · 04/09/2007, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by blehman419
TDS? not quite sure what that is. I'm sure i could search for the meaning, but the search doesn't work for me that often. also, if the water from water n ice is good, is there any reason to purchase a ro unit for such a small tank?

TDS = Total Dissolved Solids (in this case wikipedia is your friend)

You want your water to be at 1 or 0 for TDS. The lower the TDS the better the water.

I have a smaller tank than yours and purchased an RO/DI system for that. You also use the RO water for many other things: Ice cubes, steam irons, refill car batteries, watering indoor plants, drinking water, cooking, etc etc etc.

I use to lug jugs of water weekly until I purchased an RO/DI system. It's a wise investment.

sir_dudeguy · 04/09/2007, 08:18 AM

getting the RO unit would be the better way of doing it i'm sure. I dont have one and i have to run to the store about once a week for topoff water. For a small little tank you could get away with doing this all the time. Like for my 3g picotope, it hardly takes any water at all to top off. I just fill up a 5g jug which costs 1.25 to fill and that last like 2 weeks i think. Now on my 40 though...thats a different story. I use probably close to 10g a week to top it off, which is like 2.50 a week. Sometimes more when i run my fan. It does add up after a long time.

hermanx7 · 04/09/2007, 12:05 PM

Sounds like your on the right track. I would also add some phosban or other media that gets rid of phoshates. You may not read any but thats because the algae is using it up. I have a couple tangs that go after just about any algae that they can get to.

Good luck

Thomas

04/08/2007, 11:33 PM	#1
blehman419 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 16	Water n Ice I've used tap water for the past year in my tank. But the tank was sort of a 'project we will get to when we get our house' type tank and the algae growth built up. We have the house now, and have been adding live rock over the last month and it's time to get this algae problem under control. I purchased a lawnmower blenny, and two astrea snails for support, and did a 20% water change with water from Water n Ice. I am curious if anyone else uses/has used water from Water n Ice, and if it is good or bad? I also have been testing very high for nitrates, everything else is in line though. Is this just from the tap water, possible overfeeding. (one mysis cube every other day for 4 small damsels) thanks brandon

04/08/2007, 11:43 PM	#2
Blakethebug Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mesa Posts: 321	water and ice is actually a great place for water so you are just fine there. i wouldnt use tap water if i were you even if it is only a FOWLR tank it can just cause problems for ya later on __________________ Blake

04/08/2007, 11:58 PM	#4
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: mesa, az Posts: 10,795	Thats what i use....not water n ice, but watermart. Same difference. Just make sure that you test for TDS when using their water. They have RO water which is what you want, but there's no telling when they last changed the filters so the TDS could be up a bit. I've never had that problem w/the watermart that i go to though. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!! Current Tank Info: 16g bowfront, 150w halide, 2 koralia 1's, 2 true percs, firefish..lots of corals

04/09/2007, 08:18 AM	#8
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: mesa, az Posts: 10,795	getting the RO unit would be the better way of doing it i'm sure. I dont have one and i have to run to the store about once a week for topoff water. For a small little tank you could get away with doing this all the time. Like for my 3g picotope, it hardly takes any water at all to top off. I just fill up a 5g jug which costs 1.25 to fill and that last like 2 weeks i think. Now on my 40 though...thats a different story. I use probably close to 10g a week to top it off, which is like 2.50 a week. Sometimes more when i run my fan. It does add up after a long time. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!! Current Tank Info: 16g bowfront, 150w halide, 2 koralia 1's, 2 true percs, firefish..lots of corals

04/09/2007, 12:05 PM	#9
hermanx7 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: N. Phoenix Posts: 825	Sounds like your on the right track. I would also add some phosban or other media that gets rid of phoshates. You may not read any but thats because the algae is using it up. I have a couple tangs that go after just about any algae that they can get to. Good luck Thomas __________________ Thomas Current Tank Info: 125g and 12g nano cube(QT) working on a new frag tank

04/08/2007, 11:56 PM	#3
blehman419 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 16	awesome, there is a water n ice a stones throw away from my new home. i really hope the clean H20 will clear up the algae problem.

04/09/2007, 12:11 AM	#5
blehman419 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 16	TDS? not quite sure what that is. I'm sure i could search for the meaning, but the search doesn't work for me that often. also, if the water from water n ice is good, is there any reason to purchase a ro unit for such a small tank?

04/09/2007, 12:12 AM	#6
61scout80 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado, Maricopa, AZ Posts: 449	also keep in mind that the algea battle will be long and hard. it has to slowly starve to death. you may want to try a sea hare, i hear they are algea destroyers.