Is tap water alright to use for startup?

[rdefino]

I'll be filling my 210 to eventually move my fish over from the 75. Now if I use tap water (with TDS of 205) instead of RODI water (TDS 3) will the cycle filter out what's not in the RODI.

It's just the RODI is going to take a long time to fill the tank. Where tap is about an hour.

 

[rabendr2]

Should be fine, but it really depends on the type of fish you are moving. If you want RO for discus, then the answer would be different.

 

[2004exrider]

As long as you use water conditioner it should be alright. I use tapwater to fill all my tanks and doing waterchanges. If you're still worried you can pick up some nitrate and ammonia testers to check the perammeters.

Jimmy

 

[rdefino]

I tested my tap water and the Ammonia, nitrate, nitrites were 0. I also tested the water with digital tester that I use to test my Hot tub water and it said the chlorine was 0. What else could be in the water that could hurt the fish, that wouldn't be in RODI water?

 

[johnptc]

I tested my tap water and the Ammonia, nitrate, nitrites were 0. I also tested the water with digital tester that I use to test my Hot tub water and it said the chlorine was 0. What else could be in the water that could hurt the fish, that wouldn't be in RODI water?

use prime or the equivalent

 

[rdefino]

What is the best procedure when using Prime. I mix my water for a few days before using it to do the change. Should I add prime days before to the prep water or right before I do the water change? should it be added to the tank water or the water I'm using to change with?

thanks

 

[kumdoalan]

What else could be in the water that could hurt the fish, that wouldn't be in RODI water?

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129851 (Read page 6 of that topic)

I did a normal 25% water change, and it killed all my fish.
I took a water sample to the local fish store to have tested and there was nothing wrong with the results.


"Chloramine"....turns out this is what had been added to my tap water and it does not show up in normal water tests, yet is a known fish killer!

 

[rdefino]

WOW. Now I did check my water with a digital chlorine test that I use for my hot tub. Is that sufficient to see if there is chlorine in the tap. Or should I use another method of testing. Or just use Prime.

Also, does RODI filter remove all the chlorine?

Thanks

 

[kumdoalan]

. Or just use Prime.

I cant tell you what you should do, I'm no expert in RODI systems, but I do know that I will never add one drop of tap water anymore to my aquariums without a good water conditioner like Prime ready to go.

 

[Nic]

use prime or the equivalent

what he said