RO water? Does anyone use it?

[Mr Miagi]

In their FW setups? I was just wondering what the pros and cons were if anyone was too use it. If you could that is!

ANyone have experience or info to share with me?

 

[Angry_Platy]

Unless there is nasties in your water supply like heavy metals or nitrates etc. then I wouldn't bother using RO water.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Ok, i just wondered. Cause if im gonna use RO water in a SW system, i wondered if it would be good in a FW planted tank too!

Any more thoughts by anyone?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

From what i have gathered RO water is just very filtered/purifed water and has no minerals, oxygen or salts(basically a low TDS)which is bad for fish so you need to replace the some of the minerals, oxygen and salts lost before you add the purified water to the tank, but there are quite a few fish that will only breed in water that have a low TDS(total disolved solids) like zebra plecs; i wouldn't think RO water would be very good for a planted tank because it would remove the nutritients the plants need to grow from the water. RO filters and quite costly to run and not very practicle for large tanks.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Yeah, i did indeed think of that, especially with my plants and all. hanks for your replys guys!

 

[CFC]

I used to use it when i only ran two tanks and didnt use half a resevoir a week for water changes. It is definately better for the fish, when used with the correct dose of minerals to suit the fish you keep they display better colour, breed more readily and appear healthier in general. If you can use R/O water then i fully recomend it for all types of set ups, tapwater is full of more hormones, chemicals (poisons) and other nasties than you want to know about, i get a 6 monthly printed report from our water supplier and to be honest i'm suprised i even wash in the stuff anymore

 

[Timmy]

I use RO water in my heavily planted FW tank. The fish are tetras, corys and hatchets. I mix 3 parts RO with 1 part tap. I find the fishes colours are better and the plants grow well. Recommended.

 

[300zx]

i use ro and tapwater 50/50 mix with a buffer for my rays, gives a nice low ph, and is very good for cleaning the car as you don't need to dry it off