RO Water/Tap Water

[Coralgurl]

Not sure how to set this up as a poll, but just wondering how many people use ro, ro/di or tap water in their tanks? - Figured it out!

I ask because I've been filling my tank for 2 days now with ro water, wont be full until tomorrow morning, and I have to fill my sump still. (have been turning the water off during the day as my hose isn't quite long enough and I have a big clutzy dog who has already tripped over it once, knocking the hose out of the tank)

Have seen a few threads where people don't always use filtered water. I want to start my tank off right and I know, patience, patience, patience...

Thoughts?

[hillegom]

I use RO/DI even though our TDS here in the lower mainland is very low. Mine in Surrey right now is 12, last summer it was 15.
I understand yours in calgary is high, 200 or so? I would definitely use ro/di there. Just another thing to keep dissolved solids out of the tank.

[gregzz4]

Our tap water here in Burnaby is only 7-8 lately, so I'm only running the RO as it's enough to acheive 0 TDS. I have DI if I ever need it after a rainstorm or what have you

[mike31154]

The two gents from the West Coast have pretty much nailed it. Heavily dependent on your source water TDS. I ran treated tap water here in Vernon for a couple of years and am glad I finally saw the light & began using RODI. TDS here is over 200. Some of the dissolved solids are good, like calcium & magnesium etc. but most of the rest are just going to build up in your system & cause issues long term.

You should be able to pull some sort of report online from your water supplier that shows the breakdown of TDS in your tap water. This will give you a better idea of what's going into your system if you decide to use treated tap water.

[Cal_stir]

south western ontario here, TDS is @ 180ppm, water treated with chloramine so RODI is a must

[fishytime]

RO/DI here

[paddyob]

Similar to the poll I posted earlier today. Ha ha.

Not the only one wondering !

[Coralgurl]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Similar to the poll I posted earlier today. Ha ha.

Not the only one wondering !

Your poll was part of the reason I asked. I don't dose anything ATM and run a simple system. I guess as the tank evolves will see where it goes, but for now, no reactors or zeo and want to keep it simple. I only bought my ro a few months ago and love having one, much easier than weekly trips to the water store....lol. Sump is finally filling and started adding salt.

[blacknife]

I started on store bought ro, but quickly gave up and moved to tap. I have been battling all kinds of algae and nutrient problems, recently switched to ro/di. I can not blame my problems on the water as i was a noob and made lots of mistakes, I can not fully give my tank looking better lately to the switch to rodi, as i have a better idea what i am doing now, and spend a little more time tweaking this chemistry set that is my reef tank.

[reef-keeper]

I use ro/di in my freshwater as well the tds meter reads well over the 200 mark in Edmonton.