RO/or no RO

[mark]

Started the hobby with tap water and had Cyano.

The Cyano cleared up around the time I switched to ro/di but by then tank had been up for awhile and I added more circulation. Can't say 100% the ro made the improvement but can't see going back to tap as I have one less variable to deal with.

Now if I was in some areas of the country where the tap water has a TDS of 20, not sure...

[pterfloth]

I use tap water and Prime. Our water source here in Delta is from a pristine watershed. If our water came from a river and was subject to industrial, municipal and agricultural contamination, I would probably consider RO.

[Leah]

Always used tap water and prime

[Atomikk]

Always use RO/DI.... not just RO. Trust me guys, you want to start with the cleanest source water possible. It is usually the catalyst for all algae problems.

[banditpowdercoat]

RO/DI exclusively

[sphelps]

Your filtration needs are completely dependent on your water source, many people using RO don't need to as their water source is good, others do. Here in Saskatoon I get a TDS around 200 from the tap, I require an RO membrane to get a reading in a range I consider acceptable. Many other places, especially in BC, get readings in this range right out of the tap. In addition TDS can be misleading, it gives no indication of what the solids are and since some are worse than others it's hard to say what is safe and what is not.

It's a tricky subject, some will swear by one method and others by another. But it really depends on your water source which can even vary greatly within the same city.

I would personally say that if you can get a TDS reading of 25 or less without RO you really don't need it, but that's just my personal opinion. I do however believe you should use some kind of sediment filter and a carbon block at the very least to remove the chlorine and other chemicals, I think is would be much better than using additives.

Here in Kamloops they have RO out of the tap it is also UV sterilized I also use a comersial filter system as it take out any impurities porcilin carbon filter I can obly get replacments filter cartiges from the manufaturer. They use these filter in places like oOrange Julious and Tim Hortons to name a couple. It will take the alcohol out of alcohol to leave you with pure water. The water in my tank has got to be pritty good. just don't leave your lights on a reverse cycle 16 hours a day for more than 1 day algea blooms I can tell you first hand. I made a mistake programming a new timer. I am going to have to get one of those power bars that have a timer on it.

Bill

[RuGlu6]

Ro/di

[patpare]

Here in regina i have a TDS reading out of the tap at 350ppm.