I know that RO is best for salt tanks but I was wondering if distilled works okay, mostly for an initial fill. I'm starting a 20 gallon long salt tank at some point next month and just trying to figure out all my options before i put all this in to action
I would watch using spring water, some of the "springs" they use have nitrate or nitrite. as humans we can handle alot more as "drinkable water". I've test a few brands of spring water some are good others very bad (aka i wouldnt let any animal drink it, much less live in it). I would test any water source before use unless you know its coming from a working ro unit.
this is true.. i use spring water for my brackish tank. it has no nitrates or phos. some may have more then u want. i guess distilled may be a better choice.
At the same point you can honestly buy premixed RODI sw for 1.00-1.50 a gal... I mean your looking at spending a whooping $20... i would rather do that an mess around with spring water etc.
I'm doin FOWLR for now until I get used to it. And yeah Tmartinez i know long term i'll be using RO i was just thinking that I might use distilled for my initial fill so that I have the big water jugs to get RO in the future lol
Hmm for FOWLR, I believe you can use tap water.
Though it is not recommanded if you are keeping sensitive fishes and would most likely cause algae bloom.
Best would still be RO/DI water
I live in a city with excellent water quality. I personally know a few people using tap water for their reef tanks. Everything in the tank is thriving and healthy. I use RO water but that was mostly because I found a great deal on a RO unit. As Fleshy suggests, get your water tested to make sure befor you use it, or use RO water.
