Water Type You Use

[lmcarlton]

Hey All,

I tried to look back into the last posts and couldn't find a topic on this, so if there is one I appologize. I thought I would bring something up.

What type of water do you use in your aquarium. In the 8 years I have had a tank I have used different types of water. I used just tap water at first, this is when I was transporting from home to university for 5 years and I would switch from my well water (very hard and iron content) to city water which had a lower pH value because of the mining town smoke stack. When I moved back home I went back to my home well water and when it came to cleaning my tank it took hours to scrap the deposits off. Drove me nuts.

Then I started working at a store that makes and sells Reverse Osmosis water. I have some customers that use this water in there salt water tank. They says it's easier to work with water with nothing in it and add what you need then to try and take out stuff. So after one day taking 5 hours to clean my tank (because of buildup of hardness) I decided to switch to the RO water.

All I have to say it's the best choice I have ever made. It's easy to clean, easy to take care of, I don't have to worry about what my fish are getting in their water. I don't add any chemicals to my tank except aquarium salt when I do a water change. Obviously my fish like it because I have fry in my tank that are growing like weeds and more breeding happening.

What type of water do you use? Anyone use the same as me?

Lea-Andra

 

[timmystood]

I just use tap water at the minute... but i'm seriously considering going over to RO water.

 

[catxx]

i didn't think RO water was really suitable for freshwater tanks?
it lacks essential minerals the fish need
in the long run i think it can damage the fish

RO water can be used for marine and reef tanks as the salt mix provides all the essential minerals and salts needed. Straight RO water is not acceptable for freshwater as it lacks essential minerals and salts. You must learn how to adjust the water chemistry if you use RO water for freshwater tanks.

http/www.algone.com/reverse_osmosis.htm

 

[lmcarlton]

I am not an expert on this, this is just an idea, if I am wrong please let me know so I may be corrected.

Thing is, the minerals in normal water are inorganic. To make it organic you need the water to pass through plants to make it something we as humans can use.

Take this example, a handful of dirt has tons of minerals, but if we were to eat it we would die because our body can't change the tons of minerals in dirt to a useable substance.

I see it the same way with fish. I don't have live plants in my tank and so any minerals in the water wouldn't be useable. I am running on the assumptiong that fish would be somewhat similar to humans in this respect. As humans if we drink spring water we only use about maybe 1% of the minerals.

I know you wouldn't want to use distilled because it has no oxygen.

Let me know what you think.

Lea-Andra

 

[dwarfgourami]

I think most people who use RO water in freshwater tanks cut it with tap water to get the minerals etc. Never tried it, as I keep livebearers so I don't want soft water atm.

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

Since you have a loach in the tank you shouldn't be adding salt of any kind as loaches are scaleless and salt will burn them.

Emma

 

[Shelly_Otterkin]

This thing about loaches and no salt, where did it come from? I have had loaches for years and have had salt in my tanks and Nock on wood the loaches have never died/sick/burned. The 5 loaches I startes with 4 years ago in this tank are still with me and doing great.

 

[steelhealr]

Hi....I have both marine and FW tanks. As many people know, RO water is reverse osmosis water, ie, water that is forced thru a membrane and removes virtually 95-97% of all minerals and conaminants . If you add a deionizer cartridge (DI), or RO/DI filter, you can approach pure water.

The reason we use pure water in marine tanks is that these systems, let's say, are more susceptible to unwanted visitors like hair algae. They rely on things like phosphates and nitrates. Heavy metals can build up as well. In addition, the excretory system of marine fish have to preserve water at the expense of concentrated waste. Lower levels of contaminants are MUCH MORE toxic. Hence, the use of RO water.

The use of RO water in a FW system would probably reduce the risk of similar problems like algae blooms, however, the water would have to be treated with useful minerals prior using it. Disadvantages to using RO in a FW system include cost of a filter, cost of purchase, work necessary to return selected minerals, etc. The reason we all don't use it is that FW fish have a higher tolerance to varying water condtions (eg, as compared to SW). Discus are an exception in that they need exceptional water condtions. SH

 

[lmcarlton]

Thank you for all the information, like I said I am not an expert. I think because my water at home is so hard I will add some minerals to the water or add a little of my home water to the RO water instead of full tap water.

Thanks Again.

Lea-Andra