I have seen many full SPS coral tanks using tap water and a salt mix it all depends whats in your water certain areas will require it certain areas will not require it.
So have I, but a lot of SPS setups are also running media reactors and good carbon reactors to keep down contaminants.
Not to mention, like I said, tapwater issues aren't always immediately detrimental, but may become apparent over time as repeated top offs raise levels of problem contaminants.
Personally, for a newb, I think starting with RO/DI is going to be cheaper and easier than messing with all that, and it's also going to prevent potential contamination problems from tapwater that would become frustrating.
You don't necessarily know your tapwater is an issue until the tank is set up and you start fighting with algae blooms, or mysterious problems with your stock. At least if you are using RO/DI you can rule out the source water as the problem, and look at other factors.
No, RO/DI is not
necessary for everyone, but for people new to saltwater, and especially reefs, it eliminates the potential for water quality issues directly from your water source, and gives peace of mind, knowing that any issues that crop up at least aren't likely related to that.
I've learned first hand that it's much easier to just start with pure water than to try to rectify issues caused by tapwater and switch to RO/DI in hindsight after the tank is fully set up. Then you're looking at large water changes trying to eliminate contaminants, some of which actually get re-released by algae as it dies off. Daily water changes and algae removal are tedious (not to mention expensive), and that's something that all of us generally already have to deal with during new set up; So why risk having to deal with it long term?
Of course tapwater is fine for some of you, and I'm sure many have good luck with it, I'm not disputing that. But I think RO/DI is a good safeguard, and decent suggestion for newcomers unless they're sure of the quality of their tapwater source.
I have seen tanks without skimmers that have been running for years and people who keep it very basic yet have very nice fish/corals.
You know, I've done both, and I prefer not to have a skimmer. I haven't noticed a drastic difference in water quality and growth/health between my skimmer and skimmerless tanks, and the skimmer adds additional maintenance and potential problems.
Dr. Tim's one and only works too.
He developed Bio-Spira, so I wouldn't be surprised if they're essentially the same product, but I'm guessing they can't say that due to patent issues and stuff.
How hard is it to ask for clown fish instead of damsel?
My comment wasn't a jab at you, as you seem to have taken it.
Since the poster is new, he may not know that he'd specifically have to ask for a clownfish if that's the type of damsel he wanted, or if they gave him a "damsel" it wouldnt necessarily be a clownfish. I just don't automatically assume someone new to know the difference.
And as an aside, not all clownfish are docile either. Tomato clowns can be pretty darn belligerence, and mine was willing to attack anyone in the tank, and eat inverts.
The ocellaris and perculas are fairly docile, but no one should confuse their behavior as being indicative of all clowns.
