Need some real world opinions

DukeB · #1 08-02-2003, 01:52 AM

Most of the stores in this city condone the use of tapwater in a reef tank. I recently had a salesman tell me to use tapwater with a conditioner (made by seachem--sorry I forgot the specific name). This goes against everything I have read so far (books, internet...). Is Edmonton tapwater okay for a reef tank?? Or should I be going with RO DI?
Thanks in advance
Duke

EmilyB · #2 08-02-2003, 03:57 AM

I don't know about Edmonton water, but make sure you don't use a conditioner with aloe vera.

Beverly · #3 08-02-2003, 01:10 PM

Duke,

Am using RO from a Kent unit purchased from J&L. Would never use tapwater in my reefs, though I know of some locals who do.

FWIW, here's Epcor's water quality reports:

http://www.epcor.ca/EPCOR+Companies/EPCOR+Water+Services/Water+Quality/Water+Quality+Reports/2003+Water+Quality+Summary+(Monthly).htm

Geez, that's some address

DukeB · #4 08-02-2003, 03:26 PM

Thanks for the input Beverly

The chemical was called seachem prime.

Beverly · #5 08-02-2003, 03:32 PM

Duke,

Have used Prime with tapwater in my FW tanks. For FW it's a great product. Still think you should go the extra mile and get an RO unit, though, no matter what lfs say.

mark · #6 08-29-2003, 08:56 PM

Had been using tap water with some cyano blooms on the sand. Switched to store bought RO a few months back, still will get a slight bit of cyano but much less.

DukeB · #7 08-30-2003, 12:13 AM

Again, thanks so much for the replies. When breaking in to any hobby, it is hard to distinguish between necessity and fad.
At home, we already drink bottled RO water. I know it isn't RO DI, but after some phone calls, faxes, and running my own tests the water seems to be good enough for now. Although it isn't going to be the most econimical solution, eventually, I will go out and purchase an RODI unit and be done with it.

mnoll406 · #8 10-23-2003, 04:19 PM

Hey Dukeb,
Until I bought a RO/DI, I used storebought RO, then ran it through a tapwater purifier. worked quite well. Have RO/DI now and conductivity is lower, and I don't have to lug the bottles.

Mike

robbyville · #9 10-23-2003, 05:59 PM

Technically if you measure your tap water with a TDS then you will know if you absolutely need an RO/DI. apparently Vancouver comes in with a measure of between 2-14ppm. If it was always 2 then I would not bother with an RO machine. The downside of course is that if you get massive rain (like we have recently) it can affect the measure. As an example Whistler's water comes in at about 30ppm (Lots of silicate I guess since it is glacial fed). But recently it has been more like 70ppm!

I now use an RO/DI machine but for my first year in the hobby used tap water with no ill effects (Also no corals, just fish at that time).

Best,

Rob

Trevor Robertson · #10 10-24-2003, 01:43 AM

well I live in the west end and I use only tap water with a conditioner and have not had any problems although I don't have many (okay only 1) corals.

Just my 2 cents