Dechlorinating
 

As has been mentioned it depends on your source water.

CALGARY water is awesome. I don't know how it is up there in Edmonton but it can't be too different methinks. But it wouldn't hurt to contact your municipality and try to get ahold of a water analysis report and then at least you can make an informed decision.

I pity the fools who live in BC or Ontario and have crappy tap water or water treated with chloramine. It's not too often we get to gloat over you guys, so I'm going to enjoy the moment. So what you guys have an actual spring season?! WE in Alberta can use our TAP water!! nyah nyah nyah! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

( :D )

PS. Is it true that Kelowna hit 18C last week? How can you guys LIVE in that kind of sweltering heat? I hope people's reefs aren't too heat stressed!!!

Dechlorinating
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">um have you seen our water reports? there is nothing in it.. 17ppm is what my water tests out at.. 6.8 PH damn near RO water.. [img]smile.gif[/img] I lived in edmonton and I spent a lot of time in calgary also.. the water back there is no whare near the water I have here.. now I can't speak for the rest of BC or even different places on the island but the reason they use chlorimien here is they don't do any other water treatment.. if you look at edmonton water works or calgary's for that mater I think you will find they have a intensive tratment process..

Steve

Dechlorinating
 

But for chloramine you do need dechlorinator.

I can still use my TAP water for my reef without a dechlorinator, so there. And, might I add, we also know how to SPELL chloramine out here in Alburrrrda.

Of course, I am sooooooo glad that my municipality puts FLUORIDE in the water. At least my fish and reef will have teeth with no cavities. :rolleyes: Stop gloating now and go back to tending your grow op, or whatever it is that you BC hippies do out there when you're not acting smug over Albertans... [img]tongue.gif[/img] ;)

(PS. If you cannot tell, I am just KIDDING with you.)

Dechlorinating
 

I'm actually going to try RO water in my freshwater tank because of the phosphate reading.

However, I have YET to get a phosphate or silicate reading in my reef tanks. The oldest tank is >4 years old now. Water straight out of the tap for all this time for topoff and water changes. So where is the phosphate and silicate going? My theory is that if there is any being imported into or produced within the system it is being eaten up pretty quickly, maybe by the softies (maybe that plague of blue mutant mushrooms is good for something after all).

I don't doubt that in some places going RO is an absolute necessity.

Dechlorinating
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">you didn't think all thoes tanks in my stand were just for fish did ya :D

actualy I can thank Alberta for putting FLUORIDE in the water.. I am 35 years old and never had a cavity :D ( I lived in Edmonton till I was 21)

Steve

Dechlorinating
 

For anybody who lives in the Surrey area, have anybody actually tested the tap water to see if there is any phosphate or silicate?

Dechlorinating
 

I was almost dupped into buying an RO/DI unit until I had a look at the Calgary Water Analysis Report. Look likes we here in Calgary have it pretty good.

The reasons for not buying an RO/DI unit is that it wastes water on an average of 4 to 1 ratio. It strips out Mag and Calc which have to be replaced with additives of your choice/brand.

I just put my tap water into 5gal buckets and let it sit over night and like magic I have pure water, rich in Mag and Calc.

Dechlorinating
 

Hi,

RO or DI or RO/DI is important in keeping a reef in the long term. The problem is that water quality can change over the seasons and time. During the spring, there is more run off from the mountains...so there is relatively good (after a good flushing). In the summer...the water is a bit more stale, so the water tends to be not as good. ROing ensures the same quality water enters your tank regardless of the seasons, storms and etc.

Also, we have fairly soft water (i.e. low in calcium and magnesium) in BC. But, I still filter to get rid of phosphates, silicates and heavy metals. Phosphates and silicates promotes unwanted algae growth (hair algae and such).

Those who don't use filters...how do you take care of excess phosphates and silicates in your system ?

- Victor.

Dechlorinating
 

Hey Chin,

I've tested our Surrey water and it is very clean. Only 17ppm TDS coming out of the taps, but it does still have two things bad for our tanks, chlorine and phosphates.

I use an RO/DI unit now to ensure that I am not adding any heavy metals or phosphates to my system.