Tap Water
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
Forum Description: A place to discuss reef chemistry.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=80205
Printed Date: April 16 2024 at 12:48pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Tap Water
Posted By: kmtfishchannel
Subject: Tap Water
Date Posted: June 01 2016 at 8:59pm
| Hey I was just wondering if anyone has used Tap Water in there Reef Tank with success? I know a lot of people say use RO water but is there anybody who uses Tap? |
Replies:
Posted By: proskier101
Date Posted: June 01 2016 at 9:37pm
| I did. But the TDs of tap is insane. Also test your tap for nitrates and see where your at |
Posted By: reefer86
Date Posted: June 01 2016 at 11:13pm
| I remember Adam Blundell saying at a meeting about a year ago that he uses tap water for his tank. You might want to send him a PM to ask him about it. Success with tap water might also depend on what types of coral are in the tank. I would imagine that softies are more forgiving of tap water than stonies |
Posted By: 1stupidpunk
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 6:06am
| Also tap water quality varies greatly between different cities/sources. |
Posted By: beege29
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 7:03am
|
I have used tap water my whole life in my tanks with a little prime solution. I have never had a problem. I never even check the tds. I live in spanish fork. I know the water is a little hard here. I have always kept all kinds of coral with no problems and they have thrived. Just never got on the r.o. bandwagon, nothing against it either, guess i have just been lucky ------------- 90 gallon mixed reef 30 gallon sump |
Posted By: kevin.st
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 7:08am
| I know there are others around here that run very nice tanks with tap water. Myself, I use RODI and like zero TDS. The tap water at my house is around 800 TDS and I just can't do it. |
Posted By: Fatman
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 8:57am
|
Wow, 800, that's pretty high. How long do your filters and resin last? Brad, Tileman, has a tank that wins national awards and he said once that he is pretty particular about having zero TDS. Adam used tap water, but he's also growing softies. His tank is pretty amazing. |
Posted By: love2skiutah
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 9:11am
| We are so good at nutrient export these days, that I would think that most people (not all) are okay topping off with tap water and if you're trying to save a buck or 2 cause money is tight, I think it's fine. There is a slight risk though... You can't control what's going on outside your home. Things like water main breaks, construction, cities adding things like fluoride and other additives and minor and large natural disasters can happen without you even knowing or being home. Is it highly unlikely that any of this will happen? Probably, but if you're like me, Murphy's Law applies to pretty much everything in my life lol. A simple RODI system is so inexpensive, IMO it's nice eliminating one extra risk. Also, I stopped changing my DI Resin as often as others recommend. MY TDS stays under 15 and I change it like every 6 months and the tank does fine. |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 9:15am
| You can use it, but, when you have a problem you will always wonder if it is caused by your tap water. The TDS at my house is pretty low 160. With a 4 stage RO/DI I get 0 tds. If you plan on spending hundreds or even thousands like most of us, what is another couple hundred bucks? |
Posted By: proskier101
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 9:34am
|
my tap in sandy is 500-600. depending on which employee at the water plant pees in the drinking water that day. |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 9:53am
| Download the city water report. It shows you exactly what we are putting in our body's and tanks. Kind of gross. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 10:16am
|
Tap water is usually OK. Adding about a tablespoon of Kalkwasser powder to a 5 gallon bucket of tap water, stirring it once and letting it sit for a few hours is enough to precipitate unwanted metals from the water making it even more suitable for use than plain tap water. If concerned about other toxins, the typical use of AC and AA in the aquarium will remove the other relatively deleterious molecules (including Flouride) that the tanks biofiltration cannot process. Aloha, Mark  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 10:50am
Aloha, Mark ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
Chevmaro wrote:Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 1:12pm
|
I only use tap water. Feel free to check out my tank anytime. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 1:13pm
|
Mark makes a good point. In one tank I do add kalk. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: kmtfishchannel
Date Posted: June 02 2016 at 10:11pm
| So my Dad has a BRS RO/DI unit with a TDS sensor on it and it says the water that is coming into the unit is 009 ppm. I have a hard time believing that our water is that good. Unless that's bad... |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: June 03 2016 at 9:17am
|
You're right, there's no way tap water could be 9 ppm. My tap water has ranged anywhere from ~180 ppm when I lived in Centerville to over 550 ppm when I lived in St. George. As stated above it can approach 1000 ppm. For me, an inline TDS meter is convenient, but unnecessary. Hand held, portable TDS testers can be purchased online for under $15. That's all I use, because periodic testing is all that's needed. Aloha, Mark ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|