whats the diferance between not using tap water to using tap water?

[Mattgesy]

Thanks! thats what i needed

now all i need is to know about lighting to use next stop! lol

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Mattgesy

Thanks! thats what i needed

now all i need is to know about lighting to use next stop! lol

Have a peek at all the links in our library. Lost of good info there, perhaps some that your looking for.

[Skimmerking]

its going to depend on what you want to keep in your tank . try to avoid in changing back and forth. with MH you are going to have to worry about heat in a canopy if you are going with a canopy. so your temp in the tank will raise.

the key is to do a search on thenet for MH t'5's or Both... that should help ya out

this should help ya out
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=45

[Snappy]

Living in Edmonton I would recommend using an RO unit.

[Mattgesy]

for light i was thinking MH and powercompacts, becuase i dont want to have to worry about if i go shopping and find a coral i like being oh do i have the right light for that, so on so forth


and i was thinking of an RO unit too



Thanks everyone, any other suggestions? lol

[Skimmin]

When it comes to water and lighting it's tough to say what is right or wrong. I will give you my scenario as one example. I live outside of Edmonton and I do NOT trust the well water out here (even with an ro/di unit). So every week or two I haul water in 5gal buckets from where I work (Morinville but Edmonton city water). I circulate my fresh water in a rubbermaid container and only add Prime (3 times the recommended dosage) to treat my water. I have never had any problem with phosphates, ammonia, hair algae or any other potential water quality issues. Another aspect that may help to keep my tank free of water quality issues may potentially be the large refugium built into my sump(I'll never have a tank without one because it offers so much extra biological filteration) So in my scenario I just keep using tap water with Prime. I have also never needed a phosban reactor or any other fancy equipment to keep my water in check(although I am looking into a calcium reactor for Ca and Kh stabillity). Like I said before, this is only my scenario so I'm not saying right or wrong. As for lighting if you want the allround most versatile lighting you may want to look at a halide/t5 combo. I have a halide/powercompact light right now but I am in the middle of upgrading to a halide/t5 set up(in canopy)My tank is also a 120gal and with @ 150w halides and 2 96w pcs it is plenty of light for soft corals and LPS but I find it is somewhat lacking for some SPS. Typically with most of the tanks in the tanks of the month pictures, they are running high power halides (250w,400w with t5s/pcs) unless it is a soft coral and lps tank. Just my 2 cents.

[mark]

Not sure if this guy will be selling hardware but has ro unit in his sig.

[Mattgesy]

I never thought of that, putting water in a rubber maid. i am currently turning my office into a part fish room, since my new tank is going to be in the living room and i dont want everything in my living room. i am so excited! lol
there is a lite set i am looking at on aquagiants that i like and seen in use, i was going to get one from JL A. but! i hate not seeing it, and not knowing how it looks in person....
i have worked in petstores for 11 years and any place i worked that had saltwater they just used right from the tap, hence why i asked

now i work at a vet clinic, and miss my saltwater and again hence why i had toget another one


WEEE whos exciting! ME ME ME! lol
Dork! lol

[Salmon King]

One thing about good water is less algae.If you can afford a good ro unit worth every penny.