Is It Worth Going Ro Water Route?

Nick217 · Dec 17, 2011

I was thinking would it be worth it?
As i currently using around 45l of water per week in water changes.
That’s around 1 and a half of aqua safe per month? (around £13-15 not including fuel to get too the lfs)
Also i do seem to be getting poor water from the tap (Coventry)
So would it be worth investing in one and then add all the good minerals after.

The tanks hold guppy fry (12l tank)
Molly’s (56L tank)
Guppy’s, rummy noses and a few older fry (106l tank)

So would it really be worth it in the long run and would it make my little fishies lives any better?

A few more questions
Which system is best?
What product to put the minerals back in?
Stuff like that?

Thank you

DevotedToDiscus · Dec 17, 2011

Nick217 said:
I was thinking would it be worth it?
As i currently using around 45l of water per week in water changes.
That's around 1 and a half of aqua safe per month? (around £13-15 not including fuel to get too the lfs)
Also i do seem to be getting poor water from the tap (Coventry)
So would it be worth investing in one and then add all the good minerals after.

The tanks hold guppy fry (12l tank)
Molly's (56L tank)
Guppy's, rummy noses and a few older fry (106l tank)

So would it really be worth it in the long run and would it make my little fishies lives any better?

A few more questions
Which system is best?
What product to put the minerals back in?
Stuff like that?

Thank you

Am not sure the fish you have really need RO water, but if you feel safer using it then that's reason enough. You can get around replacing the minerals by simply mixing your RO water with your tap water(75% RO water to 25% tap water), never use RO water neat. However, while I am no expert, your live bearers will require the addition of aquarium salt(1 tablespoon for every 5 gallons).

You can pick up a good RO unit for around 100 quid. Be aware that these small RO units produce RO water pretty slowly. As such it makes life easier if you can store the water taken from it ready for your water changes.

Hope that helps a wee bit

fishguy2727 · Dec 17, 2011

I wouldn't.

What exactly makes your water 'poor'?

In freshwater you would have to reconstitute it to make it safe for fish, which is hard to do and costs even more. Since your fish are hard water this would be even more important and even harder/more expensive.

Nick217 · Dec 18, 2011

It just seems to be making the fish unhealthy.
Maby to high in ph ect but i just cannot test atm due to low funds.
A API master test kit is on the cards soom tho

.
I just think that the water still has a few traces of copper and that in the water but the aqua safe is ment to remove that?
Heres the data for the water in my area from seven trent

Hardness Level Moderately Hard
Hardness Clark 13.00
Hardness French 19.00 French Degrees
Hardness German 10.00 German Degrees
Aluminium 8.61
Chloride
Chlorine 0.20
Coliform bacteria 0.00
Colour 1.03
Conductivity 477.89
E.coli bacteria 0.00
Fluoride 0.44
Iron 13.00
Manganese 1.81
Nitrate 21.91
Odour 0.00
Pesticides 0.00
pH 7.54
Sodium 36.13
Taste 0.00
Plumbing Metals
Copper 0.00
Lead 0.71
Nickel 1.19

minnnt · Dec 18, 2011

Invest in some Seachem Prime from ebay for £15 for 500ml. You need to use 0.25ml per 10 litres of water. It is by far the most concentrated dechlorinator on the market i believe and works wonders. If you have the option of taking a sample of water to your LFS for analysis then they will be able to tell you what is happening with your water.

The stated ph of your water is probably fine for your Mollies, but everything else will prefer a more acidic reading of something like 6.5. I would get some wood in your tank and maybe look into adding some Alder cones and Catappa leaves. Your Rummies will thank you for it.

DrRob · Dec 18, 2011

If you're tight on funds then don't go there, the unit itself will cost a lot more than the test kit. I use RO with freshwater fish, but I have soft water fish and my tapwater seems to vary quite a bit in pH and hardness, which has caused me a few problems, it's also packed with nitrates and some ammonia, which isn't exactly ideal.

Definitely go for seachem prime though as minnt suggested, main additional investment you'll need with that stuff is some means of measuring the small quantities of it you'll need.

minnnt · Dec 18, 2011

*Minnnt

As for measuring small quantities, a normal 1ml or even a 2.5ml syringe will do. No need to worry about being spot on, overdosing is fine, even double would be fine.

CrazyAirborne · Dec 18, 2011

I've started taking my measuring of prime seriously and I'm noticing its lasting me alot longer. 1ml for ten gallons lasts ages!

minnnt · Dec 18, 2011

Yeah i do the proper measurements, all i was saying is that even if you double dose it won't harm the fish.

Nick217 · Dec 18, 2011

So the mollys will be fine with the water,
Would chemically changing the waters ph do the guppys and rummys any problems?

fishguy2727 · Dec 18, 2011

I agree, go with prime. Your tap water's nitrate is a little high, but not too bad, and the prime will help.

IME doing weekly water changes of at least 25% and feeding a high quality food is all that is needed to allow fish to thrive. It is rare that tap water is so bad that it needs to be avoided and it doesn't sound like you are in one of those situations.

eaglesaquarium · Dec 18, 2011

Many times in fishkeeping, the simplest solution is often the best. RO water is EXPENSIVE, so if you are low on funds, that is a non-starter.

Your water is fine. Invest in a top quality dechlorinator (Prime as suggested is the best, IMHO, and highly concentrated so it will last a LONG time) and a test kit. You can't know what is going on with the test kit, and it is FAR less expensive than an RO unit. Not to mention the hassle (and expense) of having to add back minerals to the water.

Messing with your tap water conditions is a very RARE solution with freshwater fish. Keep It Simple.

minnnt · Dec 18, 2011

All I would do is add some bogwood to your tank and maybe some catappa leaves and alder cones. They will help with bringing your ph down and help to soften it a little. I wouldn't bother with adding any chemicals.

TwoTankAmin · Dec 18, 2011

In general guppy prefer harder cooler water with a higher pH than rummy nose do.

Only the mollies will like salt and the tetras will not like it at all.